Astana police warn false school bomb reports carry up to five years in prison

September 4, 2026 at 07:00 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Astana police warned parents and teachers at the start of the school year that false bomb reports in schools can lead to criminal charges, fines exceeding 21 million tenge, or imprisonment. Emergency services must respond to every such report, evacuating buildings and cordoning off areas. The warning follows several recent incidents, including the evacuation of two schools in Otegen Batyr village.

Key Facts

Article 273 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code sets a maximum penalty of five years in prison for knowingly false reports of terrorism.
The maximum fine under Article 273 is 5,000 MCI, which equals 21,625,000 tenge in 2026.
Criminal liability for false terrorism reports in Kazakhstan begins at age 14.
Since the start of 2026, Kazakhstan has opened 168 criminal cases for false terrorism reports, with 31 people detained and 12 of them minors.
In Astana, a false bomb report on a plane led to the evacuation of 166 passengers and a three-hour flight delay.

Legal Penalties

Article 273 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code covers knowingly false reports of terrorism and carries a maximum prison term of five years. The article also provides for fines up to 5,000 MCI, correctional labor, or restriction of liberty for up to five years. With the 2026 MCI set at 4,325 tenge, the maximum fine reaches 21,625,000 tenge. Criminal liability for this offense begins at age 14, and motive does not exempt a person from responsibility.

Recent Incidents

Two schools in Otegen Batyr village were fully evacuated after bomb reports, but sappers and dog handlers found no explosive devices. In Shymkent, a man was identified by voice after a false bomb report in a store, with two phonoscopic examinations confirming his involvement. A court in Aktobe region sentenced a man to two and a half years in prison for reporting a nonexistent bomb at Shubarkuduk station and ordered him to reimburse the costs of the false call. In Astana, a drunk bomb hoax on a plane caused the evacuation of 166 passengers and a three-hour departure delay, temporarily halting airport operations.

Police Response

Astana police urged parents and teachers to explain to children the consequences of such pranks at the start of the school year. Police emphasized that such reports are not jokes and require emergency services to respond, check buildings, evacuate people, and cordon off areas. Parents and teachers are advised to regularly discuss responsibility with children, paying special attention to behavior on the internet and in messengers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that minors are often among suspects in such crimes, and since the start of 2026, 13 people have been convicted, including two teenagers, while six parents were fined.