Will murals disappear following the ban on graffiti in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan is preparing a separate provision establishing liability for graffiti; however, authorised murals on buildings will not be subject to the ban. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Lepyokha, El.kz reports.

The issue was raised following instructions issued in the aftermath of the “Taza Kazakhstan” environmental campaign. On 19 September, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for a stricter response to cases in which public buildings are unlawfully covered with graffiti. Two days later, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare amendments to the legislation.

Deputy Minister Igor Lepyokha explained that the Ministry of Internal Affairs intends to draft a separate legal provision. Its substance, enforcement procedures and applicable liability measures will still need to be coordinated with the Ministry of Justice, other government bodies and members of the Kurultai.

At the same time, authorised murals may remain. Where a large-scale artwork is applied to a building façade with the consent of the property owner or another authorised party, there should be no grounds for objections.

The situation is different when an individual independently decides to paint or mark another person’s wall, fence or other property. According to Lepyokha, such actions, when carried out without the owner’s consent, may already be classified as minor hooliganism.

Thus, the proposed measures are primarily aimed at unauthorised inscriptions and drawings that damage public spaces. The Government is formulating the proposed ban specifically as a measure against graffiti that causes damage to public places.