“Should not behave this way“: Interior Ministry explains dismissal of tourist police officers

Tengrinews.kz — The Ministry of Internal Affairs has explained the dismissal of two tourist police officers in Astana following a viral video featuring a blogger. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Lepekha commented on the situation.
During a government briefing, journalists asked the Deputy Minister what harm the officers' actions had caused to the public and why the incident warranted dismissal.
Lepekha acknowledged that the Ministry's decision sparked significant public debate, with opinions among Kazakhstanis divided.

"We reviewed this matter at a disciplinary commission. The commission found that the officers' actions constituted, at the very least, a violation of professional ethics and the standards of conduct for police officers," he stated.

According to the Deputy Minister, police officers on duty and in uniform must not engage in such behavior.

"It is unacceptable for bloggers to carry police officers in their arms while they are in uniform and performing their official duties. We may be conservative, but we believe that police officers should not behave this way," Lepekha said.

Following the disciplinary commission's findings, the decision was made to terminate the officers' employment.

"The disciplinary commission decided that these women should be dismissed. Perhaps they can find a calling in the cultural sphere," the Deputy Minister added.

"If we start dancing and singing songs"
Journalists also asked Lepekha whether such a reaction from the Ministry contradicts the "police with a human face" concept and long-standing calls to make law enforcement more open and people-oriented.
The Deputy Minister disagreed with this framing of the issue.

"The concept of 'police with a human face'—a police force that interacts with society—is about something else. A police officer must recognize and respond to the needs of citizens. If a crime is committed, it must be solved as quickly as possible. If an officer is on duty, they must prevent offenses. This is our primary task," Lepekha said.

According to him, participation in entertainment content is not among the core functions of the police.

"If we start dancing and singing songs, that can hardly be called a primary police function. Perhaps this is permissible in specific cases outside of working hours—by all means," he stated.

Lepekha added that he disagreed with the assertion that no changes have occurred within the police force.

"I believe you are conflating terms. Police reform has been ongoing for many years. For as long as I have worked in the force, it has been undergoing reform. There is no limit to perfection, so we will continue this work, but within reasonable bounds," the Deputy Minister concluded.

Earlier, a video began circulating on social media featuring two Astana tourist police officers and a blogger. In the footage, the man picks up the officers in his arms. It was later revealed that both officers were dismissed from the internal affairs bodies for a breach of professional discipline.