What happened?
On January 27, 2025, as Maria recounted in an interview with Kaktus.media, she was skiing on the children's slope of the "ZiL" resort, where a t-bar lift was installed.“I was skiing and at some point, I flew off the slope. There were no flags or barriers on the slope. The slope was in a gorge, and there was a pit in the middle, likely formed by water erosion during the melting of snow. The slope was bordered on both sides, and I fell into a 2.5-meter drop. My friend called an ambulance. The paramedic at the resort did not give me pain relief, explaining that the ambulance was already on the way. I waited for 1.5 hours and then spent another 1.5 hours traveling to the city. As a result of the fall, I lost about two liters of blood, suffered fractures of nine bones, including cervical vertebrae, an open fracture of my right arm, a comminuted rib fracture, pneumothorax, and a pelvic fracture. I miraculously survived. I was hospitalized in the 4th city hospital, where I received treatment,” Dmitrieva said.
According to her, the police department of the Issyk-Ata district initiated a criminal case under Article 297 “Provision of services of inadequate quality resulting in serious and particularly serious harm to health,” but the process is progressing very slowly.
“The testimonies were recorded carelessly, with mistakes. It seems to me that the resort is dragging out the investigation, as our investigator mentioned that there had already been cases with fatal outcomes here. The 'ZiL' claims that nothing like this has happened and that they only deal with the rental of 'samovars' and 'tubes.' I spent about $10,000 on treatment, and due to my health condition, I lost a major contract worth $60,000, which I will not get back. But I still hope for compensation for moral damages,” she added.
Maria demands that someone evaluate the activities of the "ZiL" ski resort.
“I have been skiing for 15 years; it is half my life. I have skied on various slopes in Russia, in the Alps, in Karakol. Everything was great. If this had happened on a dangerous red slope, I might have kept quiet, but this was a slope for children, and that is terrible,” Dmitrieva emphasized.
Response from the "ZiL" resort
The General Director of "ZiL Company" LLC, Akbar Roziyev, stated to Kaktus.media that no one has contacted him regarding this incident in the past year, neither in writing nor verbally.“I do not know her and have not seen her. No one at our resort has sustained such injuries. If it were true, I would have been informed. I am not just a general director; I have information. Last year, a foreign tourist hit a rock and was taken to our medical point, which is fully equipped and staffed with highly qualified doctors. He left and later died, but that happened not with us, but further down. We have many mountain slopes, and people ski, sled, and even slide on plastic,” he noted.
According to him, the incident could have occurred on the territory of the forestry.
“Yes, indeed, some girl was injured there. Our doctor went out, provided assistance, and called an ambulance. There have been no other such cases. I would definitely know. I was told that she was with a friend. The doctor claims that they did not buy ski passes from us. I would have found out first,” Roziyev assured.
“Since the snow fell, people have been skiing everywhere. No one follows safety protocols. The main thing is to ski, and the rest doesn’t concern them. People do not realize where they are; they just come and start skiing,” he added.
Reaction from government agencies
Five months after the incident, Dmitrieva appealed to the president's administration, stating that law enforcement agencies were not conducting the necessary investigative actions. She also pointed out a possible conflict of interest, referring to the alleged connection between the management of the complex and employees of the prosecutor's office, to which she had appealed due to the inaction of the police department of the Issyk-Ata district.Considering the public importance of the situation, the alleged systemic violations, and appeals from other citizens on similar matters, the head of the citizen appeals sector of the president's and cabinet's decision execution control department called on the General Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs:
- to ensure a comprehensive and prompt investigation of the facts presented by Dmitrieva;
- to consider the possibility of transferring the case to another agency not related to territorial bodies to exclude a conflict of interest;
- if there are grounds, to ensure the adoption of a procedural decision within the time frame established by law.
The investigative department of the Chuy region's police department reported that the incident was registered on March 7, and a preliminary investigation began. On March 21, following the investigation, the investigator of the Issyk-Ata district police department issued a ruling to refuse to initiate a criminal case. However, on August 12, this ruling was canceled by the prosecutor's office of the Issyk-Ata district, and the case was sent for additional investigation. On August 22, as a result of the investigation, 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.
Nevertheless, the prosecutor's office of the Issyk-Ata district reported that on October 23, the criminal case was suspended, but on November 14, this decision was canceled, and the case was sent to the investigative department of the Issyk-Ata district police department for further investigation.
Important!
Ski coach Vadim Karaulynkh reminded Kaktus.media of the necessary safety measures when skiing and snowboarding.It is important to remember that this is an injury-prone sport.Equipment should be selected based on the weight, height, and experience of the skier. For beginners, skis that detach upon falling are provided. It is essential to use a helmet and additional protection for hands, back, and pelvis, especially for novices.
“Today, the main problem is the lack of knowledge of safety rules on the slope. People appear on the slopes without realizing the dangers of this sport. After skiing on a school slope, they immediately move on to more challenging slopes. Our task is not just to ski down the mountain quickly but to control speed and trajectory. We must care not only for our safety but also for the safety of those around us,” Karaulynkh noted.
He conducted a survey of resorts in Kyrgyzstan and found that 85% of people do not know the basic safety rules: how to move, where to stop, why it is not allowed to sit on the slope, and why it is important to maintain distance when overtaking.
“At resorts, especially in places with large crowds, there should be clear warnings and signs. There is a need for indicators, nets, and markings of slope difficulty - green, black, red. People, when faced with extreme conditions: skis, speed, adrenaline, forget the rules. In most cases, they simply do not know these rules, which leads to negligent mistakes,” the expert added.
When the difficulty of the slope increases, it is best to consult an instructor; otherwise, it may end sadly.“Of course, it all depends on individual preferences. Freeriding - skiing on fresh snow on a snowboard - is no less thrilling than on skis. However, it is important to remember: skis are usually faster than snowboards, which increases the risk of injury,” Karaulynkh added.
A crucial point is the prohibition of alcohol consumption on the mountain.“In extreme sports, there are no safety cushions like in cars that can protect. Consuming alcohol to relax can lead to tragic consequences. A relaxed body loses control over speed and the situation. People become less attentive, and unfortunately, many consider drinking to be normal. But there may be children and other people on the slope,” concluded the coach.
