A seemingly cute video filmed on the streets of the capital turned into a loud scandal and the instant collapse of careers for two female officers of Astana's tourist police. Well-known foreign travel blogger Haggagovic posted a video on social media in which he lifts a girl in a police uniform into his arms and spins her around right during her shift. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Kazakh internet reacts
The footage instantly spread across the Kazakh internet and caused a heated split among users: while some were charmed by the openness of the local police, others persistently asked where professional distance and discipline had gone.
Haggagovic is a popular Egyptian travel content maker with 1.3 million subscribers, whose signature trick is to literally scoop random passersby and law enforcement officers into his arms around the world.
Tough response from the Astana Police Department
The response from the Astana Police Department was as tough as it was swift. The department conducted an internal review and stated that the behavior of law enforcement officers in uniform undermines the image of the agency.
"Employees of the capital's tourist police, while performing their official duties, violated the norms of official ethics and requirements for conduct. Such behavior while on duty and in uniform is unacceptable. A police officer is obliged in any situation to maintain professional distance and the established culture of behavior," the Astana Police Department emphasized.
Outcome of the internal investigation
Even the status of the tourist police, whose main task is to be friendly to foreign guests, could not protect the girls.
The outcome of the internal investigation was uncompromising: both officers featured in the blogger's footage were officially dismissed from the internal affairs bodies for violating official discipline.