The former akim of Atyrau region Bergei Ryskaliev posted a video on social media showing himself walking under blooming cherry blossoms. The exact location of the footage remains unknown.
According to Kursiv.media, Ryskaliev has been living in the United Kingdom in recent years. Journalists suggest Greenwich Park in London as one possible filming location, but it is not ruled out that the footage could have been taken in Japan.
The video on the social network TikTok has garnered 4,261 likes and 374 comments. Many commentators speak positively about Ryskaliev's work during his time as akim, expressing gratitude for the projects he implemented and inviting him to return to Kazakhstan.
Bergei Ryskaliev held the post of akim of Atyrau region from 2006 to 2012. In February 2013, he was placed on the international wanted list on charges of crimes under Article 176 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Misappropriation or embezzlement of entrusted another's property") and creating an organised criminal group.
It was reported that the actions of the criminal group he led caused damage to the state amounting to more than 71 billion tenge, of which 23.4 billion tenge were recovered. In January 2019, a court sentenced Bergei Ryskaliev in absentia to 17 years' imprisonment.
For context, a photo of former akim of Almaty Bauyrzhan Baibek against a backdrop of blooming cherry blossoms in Japan previously circulated online. Following the January events, Baibek lost his government positions and stopped appearing in public.