Local residents came to the meeting with protests and demands, expressing their discontent. Their speeches included accusations of "interference with the sacred," as well as concerns that the road might "pass over graves." Some participants at the meeting questioned the expansion of the cemetery area by an additional 6 hectares.
In response to the noise and discontent, the mayor raised his hands several times, calling for calm: "No one is to blame — neither you nor your parents. However, the city needs to develop."
He also emphasized that no work would be carried out on the cemetery grounds until the issue was discussed with local residents.
According to the mayor, there are currently two route options: one that bypasses the cemetery and another, older one, that runs closer to it. A final decision has not yet been made: "I have instructed that no one should enter or dig. First, we need to conduct an analysis, and then have a dialogue with the residents."
When the mayor was asked if he could influence the project, he replied that he has the authority to prepare an analytical note and present it to the leadership, but the final decision will be made taking into account the opinions of local residents.
The mayor also noted the importance of the new road from an infrastructure perspective: Profsoyuznaya Street should relieve the area where only one bypass lane cannot handle the flow of cars, forcing public transport to seek alternative routes.
However, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue, he added: "We are ready to hold another meeting — in a large venue with microphones, so everyone can express their views. Provocations won’t help — we need to find a solution."
The residents strongly requested to organize separate public hearings and to receive guarantees that no burial site would be affected. Aibek Junushaliev confirmed his readiness to provide such guarantees and promised that any decisions would be made only after thorough consideration of proposals from the population.
The situation remains under control. Municipal specialists are working on updated calculations, while residents are preparing new questions for the authorities.
