Almaz Kaysar

Affiliated media: Vlast.kz , Photo correspondent

Incident date: January 5, 2022

Attack type:

• Damage to / seizure of property, vehicles, equipment, documents, journalistic materials, print media circulation

Who attacked: Non-authorities

Source: Reporters without borders (RSF)

Location: Kazakhstan, Almaty Province, Almaty

Additional information:

Around noon, Vlast.kz photo journalist Almaz Kaysar was filming the demonstrators moving along Tole Bi Street in Almaty. The journalist was wearing a vest with the inscription «PRESS». He was accompanied by two men from the protesters who provided security. Kaysar was soon surrounded by about six aggressive young men with sticks wearing masks. They expressed suspicion that he was working for the National Security Committee and wanted to capture the faces of the protesters to bring them to justice later. The photographer was initially tried to be defended by decent protesters, but those against the filming became more and more numerous. Eventually, Kaysar's smartphone was snatched out of his hands and smashed. After this, Almaz was forced to take off his vest with the inscription «PRESS» and continue working incognito.