Translation of the post by Elena Platonova, an author of the Russian-language neweurasia from Karaganda.

A huge accident occurred last year at the oil pipeline in Central Kazakhstan. About three thousand tons of oil spilled to the ground from a broken pipe not far from the Molodetskoe village. The consequences of this accident are still being dealt with. However, one day after the accident it was officially announced that there cannot be any talk about an ecological catastrophe.

Many would argue with it – including independent ecology experts and the inhabitants of the village, who became victims of an industrial accident. Doctors state that, lately, there has been an increase in the number of people who suffer from asthma in Molodetskoe. Almost half of this small village became frequent visitors to the hospital.

People do not have anyone to complain to – except doctors. The government says that there is no link between the diseases and the oil spill. They say that it could not have gotten into the ground waters, and the polluted ground was already taken away. Doctors state only statistics, but the reason for the diseases can only be found out using research, which has not been conducted to the moment.

Officials say that the tests deny the presence of oil in the water, and they can even name the origin of the oil spots in the village’s wells. Their explanation is simple – the spots appeared because of dirty dishes. Officials revealed that the villagers do not take a good care of their cows and do not feed them well.

The inhabitants of Molodetskoe hope that independent experts will help them, they know that the ecology experts are on their side. These independent experts say that it is possible that oil reached the ground waters. If this is proven, the oil company that owns the pipeline will have to pay the damages it caused to the nature and its “children”.

Recently the oil company representatives announced again that they do not have anything to do with “mysterious events” that took place in Molodetskoe. The research conducted by the company itself concluded that the accident resulted in no damages.