On Thursday, May 21, over 200 vehicles, primarily with Armenian, Georgian, and Russian license plates, gathered at the "Saltanat Sarayi" parking lot in Atyrau, reports Todayinfo.
They convened to urgently discuss potential raids and inspections by the police. Many drivers arrived after additional police units from other regions of Kazakhstan appeared in the city. The drivers protested against large-scale checks and possible fines.
Previously, police officers checked documents, insurance, first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and vehicles with foreign registration. According to local residents, the raids caused significant public outcry among drivers.
Adilbek Tabyldiyev, owner of a Toyota Camry 50 with Georgian plates, stated that he purchased the car for approximately five million tenge.
"We drove peacefully for years. Now they say we urgently need to get insurance, but even that allegedly won't save us," he said.
Some participants believe that such large-scale raids seem excessive for Atyrau.
"Atyrau is not such a big city. We don't have such a flow of aggressive offenders. So why this reinforcement? Or is the local police unable to cope on their own?" said one of the drivers.
According to unofficial estimates, there are over five thousand vehicles with foreign license plates in Atyrau. Most are registered in Georgia and Armenia.
According to those gathered, police, akimat, prosecutor's office, and National Security Committee (KNB) officers arrived at the scene. However, participants of the meeting claim they did not receive clear explanations.
One of the drivers also showed journalists a chat for owners of cars with Georgian plates, which includes over a thousand people. In the correspondence, participants discuss possible raids, checks, and try to understand how to proceed.
As reported by the Police Department of Atyrau region, a unified garrison parade of complex and attached police forces took place in the region. The reinforcement, according to the official version, is aimed at preventing offenses, ensuring public order, and road safety.
The police stated that the operation should contribute to "improving the crime situation," reducing the level of offenses, and enhancing citizens' legal awareness.
Kuttybai Sadykov, First Deputy Head of the Atyrau Region Police Department and Police Colonel, emphasized the importance of coordinating all units and strictly adhering to legality.
Special attention, as noted by the police, will be paid to preventing offenses, avoiding provocations, and promptly responding to any breaches of public order.
