Kazakh police issue warning over Russian TV series that romanticises crime 

A Kazakh police official has urged schools and parents to step up control over teenagers following the release of a Russian TV series that romanticises crime. 

The series “A lad’s word. Blood on asphalt” by the Russian Toomuch Production company is set in Kazan in the 1980s and tells a story of 14-year-old Andrei who becomes a gang member.  

The film has become an instant hit in Russia, trending on various social media platforms since its online release on 9 November. 

Almaty’s Karasai District police chief, Elzat Kanatuly said on Monday that the film included “numerous scenes of violence, use of alcohol, vulgarity and illegal acts, despite the fact that the main propagators are schoolchildren”.  

Moreover, he said in an Instagram post, “teenagers appear to be the film’s main target audience”. 

“The film is full of high moralising around ‘good’ and ‘bad’ criminals,” Kanatuly added, warning that “there is a danger” that after watching the series “some teenagers will want to be like the series’ characters”. 

“We need to make the maximum effort to prevent a rise in youth crime,” the statement said, urging parents and schools to step up their supervision over teenagers that they are responsible for.  

“Fighting, drinking, gangs are not cool,” the police official added. “There is nothing romantic about it, there is neither beauty, nor heroism in it”. 

Separate reports on Monday said that a mass brawl broke out among schoolchildren in Almaty Region’s Ili District on 29 November, leaving some with serious injuries.  

According to a video posted on Egov.Press Telegram channel, the brawl involved up to 50 teenagers.  

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