Almaty Deputy Police Chief Dismissed After Fatal Crash on Al-Farabi Avenue

A high-ranking police official in Almaty has been removed from his post following a deadly traffic accident that claimed three lives. The dismissal was confirmed by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The fatal collision occurred in the early hours of March 21 at the intersection of Al-Farabi and Mendikulov streets, involving a Mercedes and a Zeekr vehicle. The driver of the Mercedes, aged 29, and two female passengers, aged 20 and 22, died at the scene. The driver of the Zeekr survived with injuries and was hospitalized.

A criminal case has been initiated against the surviving driver under Part 4 of Article 345 of the Criminal Code for violating traffic rules resulting in the death of two or more persons through negligence. This charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years imprisonment.

By order of Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov, several officials have been relieved of their duties. These include the deputy head of the Almaty Police Department responsible for patrol services and road safety, as well as heads of administrative police and public security departments.

Speculation about the cause has swirled on social media, with videos suggesting street racing may have been involved. Some claims allege a high-ranking police officer in an official vehicle might have participated in these races.

Murat Abenov, a member of parliament (Mazhilis), echoed these suspicions online, publicly calling on the Ministry of Internal Affairs for clarification regarding possible police involvement in an alleged race that led to the tragedy.

Aidyn Kabduldinov, head of the Almaty Police Department, stated that an internal investigation is underway. He promised strict legal action if any officers are found culpable. Minister Sadenov also addressed the incident on social media, expressing condolences to the families while confirming that criminal proceedings had been initiated over potential violations by officials.