Criminal cases into the death of 22-year-old Veronika Sokolova after a first date in Almaty have been merged into one proceeding. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Currently, the police department of the Medeu district of Almaty is conducting an investigation under two articles: Article 105, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (incitement to suicide) and Article 389, Part 1 (arbitrariness).
"The criminal cases have been merged into one proceeding," the department said.
In addition, a forensic biological examination has been ordered regarding the girl's death.
"Necessary investigative actions are also being carried out to ensure the completeness and objectivity of the pre-trial investigation, based on the results of which a procedural decision will be made," the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in its response.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to disclose other details about the progress of the investigation, citing Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code (inadmissibility of disclosing pre-trial investigation data).
Recall that the tragedy occurred on June 12, 2024. 22-year-old Veronika Sokolova went on a first date with a guy named Alibek, after which her body was found under the windows of the Almaty-Towers residential complex. Initially, police opened a case of incitement to suicide, but at the end of 2025, they closed it based on the guy's testimony, leaving him as a witness.
Later, the mother of the deceased, Lyubov Sokolova, managed to get the investigation reopened through court, and now a second case has been added — about arbitrariness due to the forcibly confiscated phone from the girl.
In an exclusive interview with Kursiv, Lyubov Sokolova claimed sabotage by the investigation. According to her, Veronika's clothes, video recordings, and photos disappeared without a trace from the case files. The woman is convinced that the guy is being covered up because of his connections, as the Almaty police have not granted him suspect status in the two months since the case was reopened, evidence has been lying without examination for months, and investigators constantly replace each other, creating only the appearance of work.