Police Stop Blogger Sanzhar Bokayev at Almaty Airport Over Appearance in Database

Kazakh blogger Sanzhar Bokayev claims police attempted to detain him at Almaty airport, allegedly because his name appeared in a database of wanted individuals, Orda.kz reports.

Bokayev posted a video of the incident on his YouTube channel.

Yesterday, something strange happened at Almaty airport. I came to meet someone, and within five minutes of entering the building, a police officer approached me. He introduced himself and said I was wanted,Bokayev explained. 

The officer showed him a smartphone screen displaying a database of wanted persons. Bokayev says his name and photo appeared there with a label: “civil activist.”

Of course, I was taken aback. But I asked the officer to wait since I had an important meeting. He didn’t leave my side the entire time, stood right behind me until it ended. Then two more officers showed up. And suddenly, they said, 'That’s it, sorry, you’re free to go.' Still, I decided to go with them to the police station to find out why they approached me and which wanted list I had supposedly been added to. 

At the station, officers were reluctant to explain why he had been flagged. But as Bokayev kept filming and demanded answers, the on-duty officer finally responded. He said the airport was equipped with facial recognition software that flags wanted individuals, and for some reason, also public figures.

About 15 minutes later, a senior police officer commented, suggesting the system may have flagged someone who resembled Bokayev — a case of mistaken identity.

He promised the officers involved would be held accountable.

Still, Bokayev said the officer’s phone clearly displayed his full name and photograph.

He claims he later learned that it was the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Department for Countering Extremism that added his information to the wanted list. 

He also described past encounters with law enforcement: officers disguised as couriers monitoring his home, tailing him in shopping centers, and allegedly planting listening devices.

Orda.kz has submitted an official inquiry to the Ministry of Internal Affairs seeking clarification.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya