Kazakhstan Opens Criminal Investigation After Ukrainian Flag Appears Instead of Russian During Putin's Visit

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched a criminal investigation after an advertising screen in Astana displayed the Ukrainian flag instead of the Russian flag during Vladimir Putin's visit on November 27.

A video showing the LED screen displaying the colors of the Ukrainian flag, located near the "Astana Opera" theater in Kazakhstan's capital, spread widely on social media the day before. The screen was quickly turned off, and by the morning of November 28, it remained inactive, writes Interfax.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, the advertising structure belongs to the company "Keruen Media."

"At present, all possible explanations are being considered, including technical malfunctions and possible external unauthorized interference with the company's equipment," the ministry said in a statement. The police have promised to hold those responsible for any unlawful actions accountable.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's State Technical Service announced that the LED screen in Astana was hacked as a result of a cyberattack.

"On November 27, an incident occurred on one of the LED screens in Astana, where the displayed flag image was temporarily altered. Preliminary data suggests the attack originated from foreign IP addresses using proxy servers," the agency stated, adding that they are conducting "a comprehensive technical investigation to determine the source of the interference and the mechanism of the incident."

Previously on October 7, Russian users began reporting the unavailability of online broadcasting from channels of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), including 'Russia-1' and 'Russia 24.'