Kazakhstan 2020 Crime & Safety Report: Almaty
This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Consulate in Almaty. OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Kazakhstan. For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s country-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.
Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Kazakhstan at Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions. For more information, review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.
Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Crime Threats
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Almaty as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The reported numbers of incidents in all categories of crime (violent and petty) are statistically on par with, or lower than, an average city in the U.S. Crime does not impede the operations of the U.S. private sector. Petty theft, while not common, continues to be the most likely crime against U.S. travelers. Pickpockets tend to frequent tourist sites, open-air markets, and heavily traveled public transportation—especially buses.
The U.S. Consulate has received reports about vehicle break-ins (smash-and-grabs). These have occurred in well-populated and illuminated areas day and night. The perpetrators smash windows to steal items in plain view. Thieves steal the side-view mirrors off vehicles. Notably, in 2018, two thieves fatally stabbed Kazakhstani Olympic medalist Denis Ten when attempting to steal side mirrors off his vehicle, parked in an upscale neighborhood in Almaty.
Drunken/disorderly behavior is commonplace, particularly in bars and nightclubs. Incidents involving assault, petty theft, robbery, driving mishaps, and violent verbal exchanges often trace back to alcohol. The U.S. Consulate is aware of several incidents in which criminals have drugged, robbed, and physically assaulted foreigners, including U.S. citizens, leaving popular bars and nightclubs in Almaty. Similarly, reports of Kazakhstani aggression toward foreigners that openly display affection for or make public sexual advances toward Kazakhstani women are also not uncommon. This issue may stem from a combination of alcohol and/or nationalist pride. Review OSAC’s report, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad.
1 Cybersecurity Issues
Credit cards are widely accepted. Reports of ATM skimmers are more prevalent, but fraud does not appear to be a widespread problem. Review OSAC’s reports, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and All That You Should Leave Behind.
Transportation-Safety Situation
Road Safety and Road Conditions
Driving can be extremely dangerous, particularly for those coming from the U.S. Many drivers have received little to no driver education. Drivers tend to be aggressive, routinely disregard traffic laws, do not obey signals, drive in oncoming lanes of traffic, and move at excessive speeds, even during adverse weather conditions. Road rage is common; it is not unusual to see people get out of their cars to confront each other over perceived offenses. People will regularly drive and park on sidewalks, especially during peak traffic hours when drivers’ patience runs thin.
Another concern for drivers is pedestrians, who can be equally unpredictable and reckless. Many pedestrians wear dark clothing at night and cross streets without checking for oncoming traffic. Pedestrians always have the right of way on marked crosswalks, even on busy avenues/highways; therefore, they may not check the road before venturing out into the middle of the street on the crosswalk.
Kazakhstan has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving. Consumption of alcohol, paired with driving could result in criminal charges, fines, and/or imprisonment.
Visitors who intend to drive should obtain adequate local liability insurance and maintain parallel insurance with a U.S. carrier. If you own a private car, ensure you have all required vehicular paperwork by Kazakhstani law.
OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.
Public Transportation Conditions
If possible, arrange for private transportation with an experienced local driver.
Avoid riding overly crowded buses and microbuses whenever possible. Pickpocketing is a frequent occurrence on crowded buses.
Many foreigners follow the local custom of hailing private vehicles on the street and negotiating a fee with the driver on the spot. Avoid use of these street taxis. Never get into a car if there is already a passenger in the vehicle, and get out if the driver stops to pick up another passenger. There have been instances in which taxi drivers have drugged, robbed, and beaten foreign riders, then left them at out-of- the-way locations.
Ridesharing apps (e.g. Yandex) are a better/safer alternative to street taxis or private vehicle cabs. Many drivers speak some English.
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Trains tend to be slow but relatively safe. An overnight express train runs between Nur-Sultan (Astana) and Almaty several times a week. Unless you book an entire compartment, other passengers will be sleeping in the same compartment. There have been several reports of male passengers harassing/assaulting females traveling alone on overnight trains. International trains service Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Urumqi (China). Most of these trains run on a weekly schedule.
Review OSAC’s report, Security In Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.
Aviation/Airport Conditions
As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Kazakhstan, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information is available on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, a specialized agency of the United Nations) inspectors, however, previously identified serious and persistent lapses in the safety oversight of commercial air service on some Kazakhstan-registered airlines. As a result, without prior approval, U.S. government personnel may not travel on any Kazakhstani airline operating regularly scheduled flights except for Air Astana and FlyArystan. This policy only applies to the official travel of U.S. government personnel. The Embassy will reevaluate the policy as reforms occur and future technical reviews, such as ICAO audits, determine that Kazakhstan’s civil aviation operations comply more substantially with acceptable international safety standards.
Travelers arriving at the airports should make prior arrangements for a hired car or taxi via a sponsor or hotel if possible. Otherwise, take marked taxis that have already dropped off passengers or use ridesharing apps.
Terrorism Threat
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Almaty as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The Government of Kazakhstan continues to exhibit concern about violent extremism. While the potential exists for violent extremist activity, Kazakhstan’s security elements have demonstrated an ability to interdict such activities. In January 2019, authorities detained six suspected foreign terrorists in a raid in Almaty, finding materials for improvised explosive devices, firearms, and ammunition. Authorities suspect the group of planning attacks against civilians in public areas of Almaty, and believe the suspects were coordinating with ISIS.
Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Almaty as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests
3 Civil Unrest
Civil unrest and/or protests are rare. There have been occasional clashes between foreign construction workers and their Kazakhstani counterparts in a few cities. In these cases, Kazakhstani construction workers publicly complained that their wages were less than those paid to the foreign workers. Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.
In order to hold a legal demonstration, organizers must file a petition with the city and receive a permit. In general, most demonstrations involve fewer than 20 participants. Occasionally, groups organize demonstrations without permits; police generally disperse the participants quickly and peacefully. Non- sanctioned demonstrations usually end with mass arrests.
Religious/Ethnic Violence
Occasional clashes have erupted between ethnic Kazakhs and those of other ethnicities in rural areas outside of Almaty, resulting from tensions over local issues and corruption. Security forces have stepped up their efforts to combat perceived “religious extremism.”
Post-specific Concerns
U.S. citizens can stay in Kazakhstan up to 30 days without a visa. When entering Kazakhstan, you must complete a white registration card and present it to the border officers, who will stamp and return it to you with your passport. You must retain this card during your stay and present it upon departure. If the card has two stamps, you have registered with the Migration Police for up to 90 days. If the card contains one stamp, you must register with the Migration Police within five calendar days. Certain hotels are also able to register foreign guests. While authorities may register a traveler for up to three months, this does not mean that the traveler can be physically present in Kazakhstan for three months. The specific visa category dictates the duration of stay. If you stay longer than your authorized period, you must extend your registration period with the nearest Migration Police office in Kazakhstan. Foreigners must inform the Migration Police of changes of address. Penalties for violating registration rules, including failing to produce a white registration card with proof of registration on departure, may include delayed and/or denial of boarding, fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
Environmental Hazards
The most significant concern is the threat of earthquakes. Central Asia is one of the most earthquake- prone regions of the world. Parts of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well nearly all of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are located in active seismic zones. Almaty sits on a major fault line. Residents should stock up on non-perishable food items, water, and emergency supplies in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster (to include disease outbreak). Review OSAC’s report, Central Asia Earthquake Preparedness.
Air quality is a serious concern for those living in and visiting Almaty. During winter (Nov-Mar), air quality worsens severely due to a combination of coal-fired heating plants, vehicle emissions, and weather patterns. Fine particulates in the air can regularly exceed recommended maximums for daily exposure. A joint CDC and local partner initiative monitors air quality in Almaty; find data at facebook.com/almatyurbanair or via searching for “Almaty Urban Air” in app databases.
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Critical Infrastructure
In the event of an earthquake of large magnitude, Almaty could suffer significant damage due to substandard Soviet-era infrastructure; there could also be a large number of fatalities. Most expect major communication, transportation, and utility infrastructure failure. Emergency response in major metropolitan areas is improving, but remains inadequate to handle a mass casualty incident.
Personal Identity Concerns
There are no specific legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Kazakhstan. Negative social attitudes towards LGBTI persons are widespread, and local LGBTI persons are sometimes subject to physical and verbal abuse, as well as unwanted attention from police. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for LGBTI+ travelers.
Many buildings, public walkways, and public transportation remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for travelers with disabilities.
Visitors to Kazakhstan engaging in missionary work or other religious activities must register with the Local Executive Authority office (Akimat) where the activities will take place. This applies even if the religious activities are not the primary purpose of the visit. Attendance at a religious service does not require registration, but participation in the delivery of the service does. Kazakhstan also imposes restrictions on the importation of religious literature.
Authorities may fine and/or deport you from Kazakhstan for addressing a congregation, leading prayers, and performing religious music without proper religious worker registration. Representatives of faith- based non-governmental organizations are subject to the registration requirement, even if their activities are not religious in nature.
Contact the Ministry of Justice office responsible for the area of Kazakhstan where you intend to engage in religious activities and request a written decision. Religious worker registration is only valid for the locality where granted. Review OSAC’s report, Freedom to Practice, and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith-based travelers.
Police Response
The overall police presence is significant. Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) conscripts on compulsory military service augment regular law enforcement personnel. The size and professional caliber of police in smaller regional cities is substantially less than that of their metropolitan counterparts. Many officers outside of Almaty, Nur-Sultan, Aktau, and Atyrau are not experienced in dealing with foreigners, and rarely speak English.
The level of competency and professionalism of law enforcement entities may vary, but does not pose a significant obstacle to the U.S. private sector or individual travelers. Police response varies depending upon location and the type of incident. Investigators often must follow procedures that seem to have little relation to the committed crime. Police officers have been very diligent in their efforts to solve some of the more severe forms of crimes committed against U.S. citizens.
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Police have the authority to stop individuals without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Citizens and visitors alike must present an official form of identification (e.g. passport) to an officer upon request. Many U.S. citizens, especially those who do not speak Russian, perceive identification checks as harassment. However, failure to produce identification can result in temporary detention or arrest. In some cases, the police officer’s intent is to extort money; more often than not, the officer releases U.S. citizens without incident once they become aware of the individual’s citizenship. Police continue to implement reforms to create a more professional service and curb corruption. Despite reforms, extortion from traffic police continues to be a problem.
Police officers occasionally conduct “residence checks” to verify that occupants have registered properly with the authorities. Showing a passport with a valid visa or registration card should be enough to satisfy the officer’s concerns.
Victims of crime should contact the police by calling 102. Download the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Victims of crime should give statements to police as soon as possible and contact either the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General American Citizen Services (ACS) section.
Only a certified Kazakhstan-licensed physician may collect physical evidence from victims for use in judicial proceedings. The victim must be available for police interview during the investigation and provide testimony if the case goes to trial.
Medical Emergencies
Quality Western medical care is generally not available. Serious long-term care is not a viable option in Nur-Sultan. Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website.
Anyone planning to visit Kazakhstan should purchase both medical and medical evacuation (medevac) insurance for the duration of their visit. Depending on the patient’s condition, private medevacs can cost more than $100,000, which they must pay up front. Medicare does not provide coverage outside the United States. When time and injury allow, medical personnel usually stabilize and medevac those seeking medical treatment for serious issues. Review the State Department webpage on insurance overseas.
The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Kazakhstan.
Review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Traveling with Medication, I’m Drinking What in My Water?, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad.
OSAC Country Council Information
The Almaty Country Council meets twice a year. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s South & Central Asia team with any questions.
6 U.S. Consulate Contact Information
Zholdasbekov Street 97, Samal-2, Almaty 050051 Telephone: +(7) (727) 250-49-01 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +7 727-250-76-12 Email: [email protected]
Other U.S. Diplomatic Posts in Kazakhstan
U.S. Embassy Nur-Sultan Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue 3, Nur-Sultan 010010 Telephone: +7 (7172) 70-21-00 Website: http://kz.usembassy.gov
Helpful Information
Before you travel, consider the following resources:
OSAC Risk Matrix
OSAC Travelers Toolkit
State Department Traveler’s Checklist
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Kazakhstan Country Information Sheet
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