Youth and Law Enforcement Agencies in Almaty discuss current threats and the “Law and Order” principle

A citywide preventive forum entitled “Zharkyn Bolashak” was held at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, focusing on legal awareness, personal responsibility and youth safety.

The forum was held at the Concordia Theatre and brought together students, representatives of law enforcement agencies and government bodies, members of the expert community, and specialists in prevention. The central focus of the meeting was the implementation of the “Law and Order” principle, as well as a discussion of the risks that young people increasingly face not only in everyday life but also in the digital environment.

As noted by Aziz Kazhdenbek, Head of the Almaty City Youth Policy Department, the “Law and Order” principle, identified by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as one of the key priorities of public policy, should today be viewed in a broader context than merely compliance with legal requirements.

“Law and order are first and foremost about the personal responsibility of every citizen, respect for the rights of others, zero tolerance for offences, and an understanding that public safety begins with the actions of each and every one of us. This is particularly relevant for Almaty, where approximately 770,000 young people aged 14 to 35 currently reside. Our task is not only to create opportunities for their education and professional development, but also to foster legal awareness, civic responsibility and respect for the law,” Aziz Kazhdenbek said.

According to the Youth Policy Department, since the beginning of the year, more than 190 events have been held in Almaty as part of the implementation of the “Law and Order” principle. More than 120 of these events were conducted at youth community centres, while over 70 were held at higher education institutions across the city. The total number of participants exceeded 18,000 young people and 500 academic and teaching staff members.

One of the central topics of the forum was the prevention of drug-related crime. Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Almaty Police Department explained to students how criminal groups recruit young people into illicit drug trafficking, including by offering them roles as so-called “stashers,” and outlined the legal consequences of involvement in such schemes. The programme also included thematic preventive video materials.

A separate session focused on financial security. A representative of the Almaty Department of Economic Investigations of the Agency for Financial Monitoring spoke about money mule schemesand financial schemes in which young people’s bank cards and accounts may be used to conduct unlawful transactions.

Participants also discussed online fraud, personal data protection, bullying, cyberbullying and stalking. According to the organisers, preventive efforts must take into account the changing nature of threats, a significant proportion of which have shifted to the internet, social media and messaging platforms. Digital platforms are increasingly being used to disseminate fraudulent schemes, prohibited content, offers of illegal income and methods of involving young people in unlawful activities.

At the same time, preventive efforts in Almaty are not limited to meetings at universities. Youth community centres, jointly with territorial police units in the city’s eight districts, conduct weekly nighttime preventive raids at computer clubs, entertainment venues and other locations where young people gather. During the reporting period, more than 155 establishments were inspected, and over 65 administrative offences were identified.

“For us, the number of violations identified is not the main indicator. It is far more important to prevent an offence, explain to a young person the possible consequences of their actions, and foster a responsible attitude towards their own decisions. The law should not be perceived as an external restriction, but as a natural foundation of a safe society,” Aziz Kazhdenbek emphasised.

Another area of focus is engaging young people themselves in fostering a culture of compliance with the law. Almaty is implementing the “Azamat” project, aimed at strengthening legal awareness, anti-corruption awareness and civic responsibility; an anti-corruption volunteer front office in the Alatau District, bringing together more than 400 activists; as well as the “Adilet” youth movement in the Zhetysu District.

The city’s first “Participatory Youth Budget” project also serves as a notable example. One of the initiatives proposed directly by young residents of Almaty and selected through the competitive process was a project promoting the “Law and Order” principle. It received 230 votes. According to the organisers, this demonstrates that young people are prepared to initiate projects not only in education, technology, environmental protection and entrepreneurship, but also in the areas of legal awareness and civic responsibility.

An important part of the “Zharkyn Bolashak” forum was a discussion of the consequences of risky and unlawful behaviour through specific real-life situations. Students heard from Sanjar Tursinmetov, Chief Physician of a rehabilitation centre, and Bakhtiyar Baksupiyev, a volunteer with a previous criminal conviction. Participants were also shown a preventive video entitled “Your Choice — Your Future.”

The forum concluded with an open dialogue with students. Young people had the opportunity to ask law enforcement representatives and specialists questions directly and discuss situations they may encounter in their everyday lives.

The organisers emphasised that the main objective of such initiatives is to foster an environment in which compliance with the law becomes a behavioural norm, responsibility becomes a personal principle, and safety becomes a shared value.

“Active, educated and responsible young people are the foundation of a safe and prosperous future for our city and our country,” Aziz Kazhdenbek said.