Police in Petropavlovsk have identified the author of a fake story circulating on social media, claiming that volunteers stole humanitarian aid meant for flood victims. The Department of Police in the North Kazakhstan Region revealed this information today, on April 25, 2024.
On April 21, a report was made to the police department in Petropavlovsk regarding a video on TikTok showing the unloading of humanitarian aid for flood victims, with the author alleging that volunteers were involved in theft.
After conducting an investigation, the police confirmed that no theft had taken place. They traced the publication back to a 41-year-old resident of the regional center. The individual explained that while he did film the unloading on his smartphone, he did not clarify the details with the volunteers before posting the video with a negative comment. The video was later deleted by the resident.
The materials gathered on the spread of unverified information, which could incite public disorder, have been submitted to court.
This incident is not the first in Petropavlovsk where individuals have been punished for spreading fake news about aid theft. Previously, a 47-year-old and a 27-year-old resident of Petropavlovsk were penalized for similar actions. In Atyrau, suspects were apprehended on April 18 for allegedly stealing sandbags from the embankments. It was later revealed on April 19 that the detained individuals were actually volunteers clearing the road of obstructing sandbags and soil.
