Police have opened a criminal case after a video showing two excavators digging up a Saka burial mound in the village of Taldybulak in the Zhetysu region went viral.
A local man shot the video, and it quickly spread on social media. It is unclear who is carrying out the work, why, and whether they are authorized to do so.
«The police have opened a criminal case over alleged vandalism. Investigative actions are currently being conducted,» the Zhetysu Police Department stated.
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There are hundreds of ancient Saka burial mounds or kurgans, some dating back more than 2,000 years, across Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries. The Saka usually built kurgans as ceremonial tombs for important individuals, and some have yielded gold jewelry and weapons. These artifacts can be highly valuable from both historical and material points of view.
One of the most famous Saka tombs is the Golden Man kurgan near the town of Issyk. At this burial site, scientists recovered more than 4,000 gold ornaments, suggesting that the mound was built for a member of the Saka elite.
Last month, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed Astana Mayor Zhenis Kassymbek to take strict measures against those who leave graffiti on public buildings.
Later, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov directed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to explore introducing specific fines for such offenses.
Currently, vandalism is punishable by a fine of up to $1,900, up to 160 hours of community service, or up to 50 days in prison. For a repeat offense or an act committed by a group acting in collusion, the penalty can be as severe as three years in prison.