"Marauders are back"

The girl calls Almaty a "chilly" city (a place of relaxed rest).

The more she was surprised by what happened in the former Cossack capital.

“It was quiet in my district, nothing was broken or looted.

Although the girlfriends looked different.

For example, one told how the marauders took out what they could at night in the Magnum store on Tale Bi Avenue, and in the morning the store administration distributed the rest of the food to people.

Distributed for the sole purpose: not to return the looters.

But they came back.

They made a "train" out of carts and took away everything that was left there. "

Almaty City Hall burns down, January 5

"The city is beginning to come to life"

Yuliana herself did not see the shootings in the city, but many colleagues heard how it happened.

“The same people who have witnessed violence, of course, react a little differently to leaving home, it is difficult for them to do so.

Many are thinking of leaving the country.

My colleagues heard long skirmishes.

And it is good that God has given many a stable psyche.

Many of them directly say that it is strange, but we are not crazy, and not even too anxious.

It was especially scary for the people who live on the ground floor. "

According to Svaboda's interlocutor, Almaty is starting to recover on January 11-12.

“The city is starting to come to life.

People are getting more, more cars.

On Wednesday, you could see the already normal Almaty, where everyone can not drive, signal to each other, full of cafes.

The only thing is that shops and cafes close earlier.

It's getting more fun. "

People near the morgue in Almaty.

January 10th

"It contradicts human logic"

Yuliana says she has been thinking for a long time about what happened in Almaty in early January, how such violence and looting became possible.

“I believe for sure that there were most peaceful protesters, but then came a wave of looters.

I dare not say where she came from or whether they were taken. "

The teacher clearly distinguishes between peaceful protesters and people who robbed shops and other institutions.

“Those people who protested and said they could not pay for gas and want a better life for all, they are alone, they came out to defend their rights.

But there was a second part, it wasn’t about that at all.

Protesters and looters are different people.

You can’t stand and cry about what’s wrong with you and then take and take a good share from another person.

It seems to me that it contradicts human logic, ”Yuliana says.

Robbed shops in Almaty.

January 10th

"At first I compared it with the Belarusian events"

The girl says that the comparison with the Belarusian protest was relevant only in the first days of events in Kazakhstan, then the situation changed significantly.

“I knew how scared people in Kazakhstan were, how lonely they felt in the desire for change.

I know how much they liked the Belarusians when we protested en masse and shouted "Leave."

I was glad for the people who took to the streets;

they seemed inspired.

When I heard about the looting, I didn't even believe it.

Then I watched the video, talked to friends, and I felt bad. "

Yuliana says that in the information noise at first even identified the protesters and looters, she thought they were the same people.

President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Zhomart Takayev visits the operational headquarters of the police in Almaty on January 12, 2022

Now the most important issue for society, she considers further understanding of past events: whether there will be an open discussion of what happened, or will begin to put pressure on people with alternative views.

“Now in Kazakhstan they are wondering what it was.

But it is unlikely to be an open discussion.

If you open the Cossack official media, you will see: "Takaev says: yes, we return the Internet, but not for some reasoning."

And for what then?

I have such a fear that if the president said so, many will be persecuted for their thoughts, views, discussions.

All this can easily be slandered.

It scares me. "

"Belarusians love for tasty sausage"

Belarus, like other CSTO member states, has brought its troops to Kazakhstan.

Has the attitude of Kazakhs towards Belarusians changed after that?

“They also hacked our office and broke into a bookstore.

But our old equipment was not touched, and nothing useful was found in the store.

We were glad that he was not set on fire just for nothing to do.

So our director said that it would be great if Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were together.

Belarusians are always treated well here.

You know, I am loved here only because the Belarusian sausage is delicious. "

CSTO troops in Kazakhstan

The teacher says that most of her Cossack acquaintances and friends just adore Belarus, especially for goods, but do not want to get involved in political processes.

“There is a cult of Belarus here: every few quarters there are Belarusian shops, you don't even have to go home.

There are marshmallows, marmalade, candy, furniture, tights.

I was often asked why Belarusians were not pleased with one citizen.

I'm even tired of explaining it, ”Yuliana says.

If we talk about the general state of life in Almaty and Minsk, the interlocutor says that there are many nuances.

“Richer Kazakhs seem richer to me than rich Belarusians, and poverty is the same everywhere.

When I went to Karaganda by bus, I caught myself thinking that in Belarus in the province there is a feeling of well-groomed and minimal comfort, and there is no such thing.

If you look at remote places in Kazakhstan, it becomes boring.

And Minsk seems poorer to me than Almaty, although it looks better.

Almaty looks a bit like the old five-story Kurasovshchina or Chizhovka.