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Young Activists Battle Bad Parking Habits in Kazakhstan

Categories: Central Asia & Caucasus, Uzbekistan, Citizen Media, Law, Youth

A group of young activists in Pavlodar [1], a city in northeastern Kazakhstan, have founded a movement aimed at teaching manners to drivers. The young people confront motorists who park on sidewalks or in other improper places and ask them to move the vehicles to designated parking spots. The movement coordinates its activities and recruits activists via social media.

A Kazakhstani blogger interviews [2] [ru] the founder of the movement:

When we just began to carry out our raids, motorists often threatened us and told that we were not police, using very offensive language. This is the only problem we have encountered so far. We are seeking support from the authorities because we help them enforce the law and ensure public order…

The movement calls itself “Stop, Twerp” [Стоп Хам], borrowing its name and tactics from a similar group in Russia [3] [ru], an offshoot of the Kremlin-supported Nashi youth movement [4].