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Drones Kazakh deputy remote ID system

Kazakh Lawmakers Propose Remote ID System for Drones

Yelnur Beisenbayev, a deputy of the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, has submitted a formal inquiry to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Defense Minister Dauren Kasanov, proposing the introduction of a mandatory Remote ID system for drones weighing 250 grams or more. Beisenbayev noted that while drones of this weight class, especially those equipped with cameras or sensors, are already subject to mandatory registration in Kazakhstan, enforcement remains weak. Drones weighing up to 15 kilograms can still be purchased freely and used without registration, posing a potential threat to public safety. “This sector, which plays a key role in technological development, must be regulated carefully to prevent its misuse for criminal purposes,” Beisenbayev stated. He illustrated the potential danger with a hypothetical scenario: a toy drone flying above a mass event such as a concert or football match. “In such situations, evacuation of thousands of spectators would be impossible, and the consequences could be catastrophic,” he warned. He urged the government to tighten both administrative and criminal liability for the unauthorized assembly and use of drones. Drawing on international examples, Beisenbayev highlighted the United States, where every drone weighing 250 grams or more is required to have a “digital passport” that includes its serial number, coordinates, and the operator’s data. Similar regulations exist in the European Union, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, where drones must carry unique digital markings and flight recorders (“black boxes”). He proposed that Kazakhstan adopt similar measures, including licensing for drone manufacturers, mandatory digital marking of key drone components, and stricter penalties for violations, especially at mass events. Currently, the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan oversees the registration of unmanned aircraft systems. UAVs with a maximum take-off weight of 250 grams or more, or any drone capable of collecting personal or confidential data, must be registered. Drones with a take-off weight of 750 kilograms or more require state registration. The proposal comes amid recent drone-related incidents near Kazakhstan’s border with Russia. Several UAV crashes have occurred in the West Kazakhstan region, with the Ministry of Defense later confirming the aircraft may have been launched from a Russian test site. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, in mid-June, debris suspected to be from a drone was also discovered in the Karakiyan district of the Mangistau region.

Crime incident Kazakh deputy assault

Brutal Assault on Kazakh Politician Raises Questions

Nurlan Baigaziev, a local politician in the Ili district in the Almaty region, has been brutally beaten in Taraz, according to reports that quickly spread across social media and were subsequently confirmed by law enforcement authorities. Incident Details Police confirmed that the incident occurred on the evening of May 13 at a local café. Baigaziev, who sustained facial injuries, was taken to a hospital but declined further treatment. The Zhambyl region police stated that a pre-trial investigation has been launched under Part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism). An individual identified as being involved in the attack has been detained, and investigators are working to determine all the circumstances surrounding the case. Background and Possible Motives Social media reports indicate that Baigaziev was in Taraz on a business trip, purportedly meeting with clients in his capacity as a lawyer. Some accounts suggest that the assailant used brass knuckles during the attack. However, the exact motives remain unclear. This incident comes on the heels of an earlier controversy involving Baigaziev. On April 28, a video circulated online showing juvenile police officers in the Almaty region stopping a 17-year-old girl and offering her a ride in an official vehicle. Baigaziev, who publicly criticized the police for what he described as an abuse of power, attracted widespread attention. The fallout from that video led to the dismissal of one officer and the removal of another. Related Incidents Notably, attacks on officials in Kazakhstan are not uncommon. For example, on April 21, Ruslan Berdenov, the deputy mayor of Shymkent, was seriously injured near the city administration building when an assailant fired shots with a Saiga-12 shotgun. The attacker, identified as 30-year-old Zhiinbai Yernar Zhiinbaiuly, was detained at the scene following the intervention of Berdenov’s driver, and a criminal case has been opened on charges of attempted murder. The investigation into that incident remains ongoing.

ban Proposal Sex Change Operations Kazakh deputy Transgender

Proposal to Ban Sex Change Operations in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's Mazhilis (Parliament) Deputy Magerram Magerramov has proposed a ban on sex change operations, arguing that such procedures contradict national culture, traditions, and common sense. Magerramov stressed the need to preserve traditional family values and questioned Kazakhstan’s legal framework, which currently allows gender reassignment for individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria. “According to the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ‘On the Health of the People and the Health Care System’, citizens over 21 years old who do not have mental or behavioral disorders can change their gender identity. However, the very term ‘gender identity disorder’ already implies the presence of a certain deviation,” he said. The deputy argued that if a person has no physical abnormality but is diagnosed with an identity disorder, it should be classified as a mental or behavioral condition rather than grounds for medical intervention. “Interfering with a healthy body through hormone therapy and surgical procedures cannot be justified when it comes to mental or behavioral disorders. It is an attempt to bring the body in line with the subjective perception of reality, which, in my opinion, is unacceptable,” he added. Magerramov also expressed concerns about the impact on social norms, saying that gender transition was influenced by ideas unacceptable to Kazakh culture. The World Health Organization (WHO), however, removed transgender identity from the list of mental illnesses in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019. Magerramov’s speech is not the first time he has criticized what he refers to as "Western values." Earlier, he accused foreign sponsors, particularly USAID, of funding women’s marches and LGBT events in Almaty. In addition, his colleague from the People’s Party of Kazakhstan, MP Irina Smirnova, has proposed a law on foreign agents, which would require media and NGOs to disclose sources of foreign funding.