Astana Police Detain Two Unaccompanied Children; Video of Crying 12-Year-Old Draws Criticism
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Police in Astana detained two children, aged 10 and 12, in the Saryarka district around midnight on 17 August after finding them outside without adults. Video of a crying 12-year-old girl being held by officers circulated online and prompted criticism from some social media users, while others defended the police. The city police department said the girl resisted, lay on the ground and her mother was called.
Key Facts
- Astana police detained two children, aged 10 and 12, around midnight on 17 August in the Saryarka district after finding them outside without adults.
- A bystander filmed a crying 12-year-old girl being led by officers; the video circulated widely on social media and drew criticism.
- The Astana police department said the girl resisted officers, lay on the ground and began crying, and her mother was called to the scene.
- The parents of both children were charged with administrative offences for allowing minors outside at night without legal representatives.
- Astana police said no complaints or claims had been received from the parents regarding the officers' actions.
The Nighttime Detention
Astana police identified two minors, aged 10 and 12, in the Saryarka district around midnight on 17 August without adult accompaniment. A video filmed by a passing woman showed the children sitting on the ground and crying while officers tried to lift them. The footage circulated on social media and split viewers: some users called the officers' actions too harsh, while others said parents bear responsibility for children being outside at night. One commenter asked why officers could not explain the situation to the child and allow a call to parents; another said fining parents would make them watch their children.
Police Account and Legal Measures
The Astana police department said officers needed to establish the children's identities, deliver them to a police station and transfer them to legal representatives. According to police, the 12-year-old girl resisted during the procedure, lay on the ground and began crying; her mother was called to the scene. The department said the published fragment does not show the preceding circumstances or the reasons for the officers' actions. The parents of both children were charged with administrative offences for allowing minors outside at night without legal representatives. Police said no complaints or claims about the officers' actions had been received from the parents.
Child Safety Statistics
Astana police said the measures were justified by child safety. Since the start of the year, more than 200 minors have become victims of crimes and more than 400 were injured in road accidents, according to the department. Police identified more than 7,000 cases of children being outside at night without legal representatives in the same period. Police urged the public not to draw conclusions from a single video fragment and reminded citizens not to interfere in lawful police work.
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Astana Police Detain Two Unaccompanied Children; Video of Crying 12-Year-Old Draws Criticism
