Bellingcat Challenge #3 "Pulling Focus" Writeup
Table of Contents
This article was automatically translated from Japanese by AI.
Challenge
Bellingcat Challenge #3 “Pulling Focus”
When Aiganysh was travelling by car, she took this photograph of a building. Despite her best efforts, the building came out a little blurry.
Can you figure out what the building is used for?
What is the function of this building?
Solution
I ran the sign in the center of the photo through Google Image Search. AI Mode read the text as КАЗАН-КУЙГАН АЙЫЛЫ, which led me to Kazan-Kuygan in Kyrgyzstan. The bollards visible near the center of the photo also match the characteristics of Kyrgyzstan described in Plonk It’s Kyrgyzstan guide.
Next, I searched Google Maps for Kazan-Kuygan and checked Google Street View along the A365 highway, which runs north to south through the town. I examined several places where side roads branch off A365 in the same way as in the challenge photo and identified the viewpoint shown below.
Finally, the facility listing for the building at the identified location shows its name as Библиотека/Library.
Flag
Library