How did it happen?
On January 27, 2025, Maria was skiing on the children's slope of the "ZiL" resort, where a T-bar lift operated. According to her, she fell into a ravine: "There were no flags or barriers on the slope. The slope was in a gorge, and at some point, I just fell into a 2.5-meter ravine. My friend called an ambulance, but I waited for it for a whole hour and a half, receiving no medical assistance from the resort's paramedic." As a result of the fall, she lost about two liters of blood and sustained multiple injuries, including an open fracture of her arm and broken ribs. "I survived by a miracle," she added.Maria claims that the police department of the Issyk-Ata district opened a case under Article 297 "Provision of services of inadequate quality," but the investigation process is progressing extremely slowly.
She also noted that there are errors and inaccuracies in the case materials: "The testimonies were recorded carelessly, with spelling mistakes. I suspect that the resort may be trying to delay the investigation, as our investigator mentioned that there had already been fatal incidents at this resort." According to her, the treatment cost $10,000, and she also lost a contract worth $60,000, which she will not be able to recover.
Dmitrieva demands that someone assess the activities of the "ZiL" ski resort. "I have been skiing for 15 years on various slopes around the world. If this had happened on a dangerous red slope, I wouldn't have reacted this way, but it was a children's slope. It's just terrible," she emphasized.
Response from the "ZiL" resort
The General Director of "ZiL Company" LLC, Akbar Roziyev, told Kaktus.media that no one had approached him regarding this incident for a year. "I don't know what she is talking about. No one has received serious injuries at our resort. If that were the case, I would have been informed," he stated. Roziyev also noted that similar incidents could have occurred on the neighboring territory of the forestry, not at the resort itself.According to him, "some girl" did indeed get injured, and their doctor called an ambulance, but he claims that she did not have a ski pass, which supports his position.
Roziyev also expressed dissatisfaction that many people do not follow safety rules on the slopes: "People ski without caring about the rules. The main thing is to ski, and no one thinks about safety."
Authorities' reaction
Five months after the incident, Maria appealed to the president's administration, stating the inaction of law enforcement agencies. She also expressed concerns about a possible conflict of interest, referring to the alleged connection between the resort's management and the prosecutor's office, to which she had appealed.Considering the importance of this case and other similar appeals, the head of the citizen appeals sector urged the General Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
- to ensure a thorough investigation of the facts presented by Dmitrieva;
- to consider the possibility of transferring the case to another agency to eliminate the conflict of interest;
- if there are grounds, to make a procedural decision within the time limits established by law.
The investigative service of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Chui region reported that the case was registered on March 7, and a preliminary investigation was initiated. On March 21, the investigator refused to initiate a criminal case. However, on August 12, this decision was overturned, and a criminal case was initiated on the signs of a crime under Article 297 Part 2 Item 2 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Notably, on October 23, this criminal case was suspended, but on November 14, the prosecutor's office canceled this decision and sent it for further investigation.
Precautionary measures
Ski coach Vadim Karaulynkh reminded Kaktus.media of the importance of following safety measures while skiing and snowboarding.It should not be forgotten that this is a sport with a high risk of injury.Equipment should be selected individually based on the height, weight, and experience of the skier. For beginners, skis that detach during a fall are recommended. The use of a helmet is mandatory, as well as additional protection for beginners.
Karaulynkh also noted that many people do not know the rules of behavior on the slopes, which leads to injuries: "After skiing on a school slope, many immediately go to more difficult slopes. Our task is not only to descend quickly but also to control speed and the line of descent."
According to him, 85% of people skiing at resorts in Kyrgyzstan do not know basic safety rules.
Karaulynkh added that resorts should have clear signs and warnings about the difficulty of slopes to help people avoid accidents.
When the level of slope difficulty increases, it is best to seek help from an instructor.He also emphasized that consuming alcohol while skiing is strongly discouraged: "This can lead to serious consequences. In extreme conditions, a relaxed body cannot control speed and the situation."
