Families of plane crash victims received 1 million tenge each

Akim (Governor) of South-Kazakhstan oblast Askar Myrzakhmetov has transferred 1 million tenge ($6,700) to the families of each officer who died in the plane crash near Shymkent, Tengrinews.kz reports. The Akim met with the families of the crash victims. He expressed condolences and said that this money did not come from the budget. These were the funds collected by the oblast's residents, including entrepreneurs, opinion leaders and ordinary citizens. “People just came to the administration quarters and said that they were ready to help with whatever they could,” the Akim said. The families of the crash victims asked the Akim not to put the remains of the bodies of the victims into zinc coffins straight away, but to allow them to perform burial rituals. Myrzakhmetov promised to grant the wishes and invite a priest and a mullah. The AN-72 military plane of the Border Control Service of Kazakhstan National Security Commission crashed at 06:55 p.m. on December 25, 20km from Shymkent airport. The plane had 7 crew members and 20 militarymen onboard, including the acting head of the Border Control Service of Kazakhstan National Security Commission Turganbek Stambekov and his wife.