Graffiti will be punished - Ministry of Internal Affairs prepares new rules
Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan is set to impose a total ban on inscriptions and drawings that damage public spaces. Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov announced the move during a government meeting, citing the government's press service.
The Minister reported on measures to prevent vandalism and the defacement of public areas, while also presenting proposals to improve legislation in this field. Specifically, Sadenov suggested banning all inscriptions and drawings on public buildings and structures, with administrative penalties for violations.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to draft the necessary legislative proposals.
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs must prepare amendments to the legislation to establish a complete ban on all types of graffiti that damage public places, in order to prevent vandalism and hooliganism," he stated.
The move follows instructions from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Mayor of Astana, Zhenis Kassymbek, to take strict measures against those attempting to deface the walls of public buildings with so-called graffiti.
"The Head of State is convinced that such actions must not be tolerated in Kazakhstani cities. Legislative and regulatory measures should be taken to introduce a total ban on such 'creativity,' which disfigures municipal territories worldwide and constitutes an act of vandalism and malicious hooliganism," the President's press service reported.
Recently, unidentified individuals vandalized LRT cars in Astana with graffiti. The case was handed over to the police, and the inscriptions had to be removed using specialized cleaning agents.
In 2021, vandals broke into the assembly and fueling complex at the Baikonur Cosmodrome and covered the unfinished Buran spacecraft.
Additionally, in May of this year, graffiti with the word "Kazakhstan" appeared near the Eiffel Tower. Most social media users criticized the act, calling it a sign of disrespect toward the city and the historic site. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that such incidents "tarnish the country's image."