Pavlodar, 28 October. National Security Committee officers, coordinating with prosecutors, detained a local woman in Pavlodar and opened a pre-trial investigation after she circulated a video insulting Kazakhs and claiming that Kazakh cities should come under Russian control, Ulysmedia reported, adding that the committee had confirmed the information.
According to the committee's reply, on 28 October its officers detained a local woman in Pavlodar in coordination with prosecutors, a pre-trial investigation was opened, and she had a previous conviction for selling drugs. The committee did not say under which article of the Criminal Code the investigation was opened.
Earlier that day, in his address, the President said that not all issues related to protecting the country's independence and sovereignty had been resolved.
What it means: Kazakhstan treats calls for parts of the country to secede and incitement of ethnic hatred as criminal matters; the security service responded with a detention on the day the video spread online.
What we know now: An investigation has been opened; only a court can determine the offence and guilt. The detained woman has not been officially named.
Background: Kazakhstan's Criminal Code provides for liability for propaganda and calls to violate the country's integrity and for inciting social, ethnic and other hatred.
