Dinara Yegeubayeva says investigation into traffic accident is being deliberately prolonged

Kazakhstani journalist Dinara Yegeubayeva has reported that the investigation into a traffic accident involving her has been dragging on for an extended period, which she believes may be connected to her professional activities.

According to Yegeubayeva, investigator Sultan Rakhmatullayev told her that the investigation could take up to a year. The case concerns a collision with a cyclist who, judging by the published video footage, appears to have violated traffic rules by riding into oncoming traffic and colliding with the journalist’s car.

Yegeubayeva compared her case with a similar traffic accident in Ust-Kamenogorsk, where a decision in an administrative case was issued within a matter of hours.

“The accident happened on 19 August at 8:10 p.m. The news was published at 1:25 p.m. the following day, reporting that the cyclist had been held responsible: ‘According to police, the cyclist was charged under Part 2 of Article 615 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “Violation of traffic rules by pedestrians and other road users.”’ In other words, only a few hours passed between the accident and the decision. The case was handled as an administrative offence. Obviously, neither the driver nor the cyclist is involved in independent journalism. That is why the matter was resolved in accordance with the law. Otherwise, it would have become a criminal case, as in my situation,” the journalist said.

Yegeubayeva believes the length of the investigation may indicate that the collision with the cyclist was a staged provocation. She also links the delay to a possible attempt to restrict her ability to leave the country.

“Why a year? Because the presidential election is supposed to take place within that period. By then, all journalists who are not controlled by Akorda must be silenced,” Yegeubayeva said.