Казахстан

Палітзняволеныя ў краіне Казахстан

Name: Political Prisoners in Kazakhstan — Documented Cases
Creator: Political Prisoner Watch
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Қазақстандағы саяси тұтқындар

166 задакументаваных спраў

Kazakhstan's political-prisoner population grew sharply after the January 2022 ('Qantar') unrest, when protests sparked by fuel-price increases were met with security-force violence and mass detentions. Activists, independent journalists, labor organizers, and members of unregistered opposition movements continue to face prosecution under broadly drawn extremism, terrorism, and 'inciting social discord' statutes.

Coverage of Kazakhstan in this database is currently aggregated from the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Coalition Against Torture in Kazakhstan, with English translation and standardized case classification by Political Prisoner Watch.

Асноўныя крыніцы: Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights

§ Data

Казахстан, by the numbers

Documented cases
a lower bound

Documented

163

Urgent

39% of cases

Torture reported

Int’l attention

Arrests over time

16 mo

Cases by category

Top 7

Other84

Protest27

Activism23

Journalism17

Political5

Social Media4

Religious2

Urgency profile

Critical14

High50

Medium88

Low11

Most-cited charges / articles

Top 7

Article 174(2)21

Article 1744

Article 4883

272, Part 33

50 part 33

2742

Article 4052

Figures reflect documented cases in this database · a lower bound, not an official total

Нядаўнія справы па краіне Казахстан

Daniyar Adilbekov

Adilbekov, a journalist running a Telegram channel on corruption, was convicted for knowingly false denunciation and disseminating false information in connection with his publications. Adilbekov was known for raising issues of corruption before charges were brought against him. He was convicted on October 18 2024.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · JUN 18, 2026

Saltanat Tashimova

Saltanat Tashimova is an environmental activist and chairwoman of 'Let's Protect Almaty' who advocates for environmental rights and historical heritage. She has faced judicial harassment related to her human rights defense and environmental activism.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Walikhan Negmetov

A resident of Kokshetau who was fined for participating in a peaceful protest against the visit of the Russian President. The protest was part of a demonstration during the CSTO summit.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Kanat Amrenov

Kanat Amrenov was arrested for 15 days in the month preceding the report. He is mentioned in the context of other activists being detained while attempting to visit him.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Alexander Merkul

A stand-up comedian sentenced to ten days of arrest. The text does not specify the exact nature of his performance but includes him in a trend of punishing youth creatives.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Temirlan Yesenbek

Temirlan Yesenbek is currently in detention for two months following a satirical post that included the song 'Yo, Orystar'. Authorities allege the content constitutes incitement of ethnic hatred against Russians.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Asem Zhapisheva

Asem Zhapisheva served a 15-day administrative arrest for staging a single-person protest in support of Temirlan Ensebek. Her detention is part of a crackdown on activists protesting Ensebek's arrest.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Nurashkhan Baskozhaev

A comedian sentenced to fifteen days of incarceration for a stand-up routine that criticized government officials' handling of a flooding crisis. The charges were brought under the guise of petty hooliganism.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · JUN 4, 2026

Zhanar Sekerbayeva

The text identifies Zhanar Sekerbayeva as a human rights defender and activist in Kazakhstan. However, the text does not explicitly state that she has been arrested or is currently a prisoner.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Maria Kochneva

Maria Kochneva was sentenced to ten days of administrative arrest for performing a rap song containing obscenities to express opposition to the war in Ukraine. Her actions were identified after pro-Kremlin bloggers circulated a video of her performance online.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Yevgeny Zhovtis

A leading human rights defender in Kazakhstan, Zhovtis was sentenced to four years in prison following a fatal traffic accident. Human rights organizations and legal experts argue the prosecution is a politically motivated attempt to silence him ahead of Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

Sultanbekuly Alisher

A choreographer facing a criminal investigation after a video of an erotic dance routine in traditional-inspired attire went viral. Authorities are investigating whether the performance incited social or religious hatred.

АБНОЎЛЕНА · MAY 26, 2026

unknown

Усе 166 спраў па краіне Казахстан Паказаць на карце Апошнія навіны

154 з 166 спраў пакуль не нанесены на карту — звычайна таму, што першакрыніца не пазначыла дакладнае месца.