Astana mayor suggests toughening control over visitors and migrants

Astana. Photo by Danial Okassov©

Imangali Tasmagambetov, the mayor of the country’s capital city Astana, believes that the growing inflow of migrants to the city has resulted in growing crime, Newskaz.ru reports. “Astana is an attractive place. I believe we should toughen control over migrants and over sojourn of visitors in the capital”, the mayor said when speaking at a sitting of the Rule of Law and Crime Control Board. “I suggest setting new rules related to permanent residence in the capital city (…) each person applying for permanent residence should own at least 15 square meters of housing”, he said. “Crimes committed by visitors to the capital city – primarily petty crimes and moderately severe crimes – make up over 30 000 (90%) of all crimes. Thefts account for 56.9% of all crimes. Back in 2010 the number of thefts stood at 1500, with the figure reaching 14 000 in 2012. Hooliganism and robberies are on the rise, with their figures making up 3 358 and 2 330 respectively”, he said. The growing population has resulted in extra burden on investigators (2.6 times higher than the country’s average) and lower crime detection rate.

Imangali Tasmagambetov, the mayor of the country’s capital city Astana, believes that the growing inflow of migrants to the city has resulted in growing crime, Newskaz.ru reports. “Astana is an attractive place. I believe we should toughen control over migrants and over sojourn of visitors in the capital”, the mayor said when speaking at a sitting of the Rule of Law and Crime Control Board. “I suggest setting new rules related to permanent residence in the capital city (…) each person applying for permanent residence should own at least 15 square meters of housing”, he said. “Crimes committed by visitors to the capital city – primarily petty crimes and moderately severe crimes – make up over 30 000 (90%) of all crimes. Thefts account for 56.9% of all crimes. Back in 2010 the number of thefts stood at 1500, with the figure reaching 14 000 in 2012. Hooliganism and robberies are on the rise, with their figures making up 3 358 and 2 330 respectively”, he said. The growing population has resulted in extra burden on investigators (2.6 times higher than the country’s average) and lower crime detection rate.

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