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Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 27 individuals fighting for freedom and justice

Documented Cases.

Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 27 individuals fighting for freedom and justice across Russia, Belarus, Georgia, and Central Asia.

Country

Urgency

Aigerim TLEUZHAN

A civil activist and journalist from Almaty convicted for the seizure of Almaty airport. She pleaded not guilty, stating she only stayed at the airport briefly.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 2, 2026

Kalas NURPEISOV

Convicted in connection with the seizure of Almaty airport during the January protests. He is labeled by authorities as a bandit/terrorist, though he is considered a civil activist.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 2, 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.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Yermuhamet SHILIBAEV

Convicted for his alleged role in the seizure of Almaty airport during the January protests. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 2, 2026

Nurlan DALIBAYEV

He was convicted in connection with the seizure of Almaty airport during the January 2022 protests.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 2, 2026

Zhan-Aidar KARMENOV

He was convicted in the case involving the seizure of Almaty airport during the January protests and did not plead guilty.

LAST UPDATED · JUN 2, 2026

Batika Bilash

Activist Batika Bilash has been released from custody and placed under house arrest for two months. She was accused of fraud following complaints from individuals who donated to a YouTube channel.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 4, 2026

Mukhtar Erbayan

An investigation is ongoing regarding the death of soldier Mukhtar Erbayan, who died after sustaining a head injury while in the National Guard. His family disputes the official version that he fell in a bathroom.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Orazaly Yerzhanov

Orazaly Yerzhanov, head of the Elge Qaitaru Foundation, was sentenced to 4 years of restricted freedom for calling for a boycott of the constitutional referendum. He is ineligible for the current amnesty law.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Alexander Pak

Alexander Pak is facing a preliminary hearing regarding a high-profile fatal car accident in Almaty. There are public suspicions regarding police inaction or potential corruption involving the vehicle's registration.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Nurgul Ibraeva

Nurgul Ibraeva, an activist from the 'Atajurt' movement, was removed from a train by police while traveling to Astana to meet with the US Embassy. She was interrogated by police and security services regarding her activities and her husband's previous conviction.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Vadim Boreiko

Journalist Vadim Boreiko is facing a civil lawsuit from a construction company claiming he damaged their reputation through his YouTube channel 'Hyperborea'. The plaintiff has requested a closed-door trial.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Alexander Pak

Alexander Pak was sentenced to 5 years in prison for a fatal car accident in Almaty. He was driving at high speed under the influence of alcohol, resulting in the deaths of three people.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Urmat Usenov

Urmat Usenov, son of former Kyrgyz PM Daniyar Usenov, is detained in Almaty on charges of illegal entrepreneurship and forming a transnational criminal group. He has been in custody since March.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Alexandra Alekhova

Journalist Alexandra Alekhova is facing criminal charges under Article 147 for reporting on a dispute at the 'Kenjekhan' market. The case was sent to court in May 2026 following a police investigation.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Orazaly Erzhanov

Orazaly Erzhanov, head of the Elge Qaitaru foundation, is facing a requested 4-year sentence for allegedly obstructing electoral rights by calling for a 'smart boycott' of a constitutional referendum. He maintains that his political advocacy is not a crime.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Iakov Vorontsov

Former clergyman Iakov Vorontsov, who criticized the war in Ukraine, has been ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation. He claims the drug charges are fabricated to discredit him and reports that his hair and beard were forcibly shaved in detention.

URGENT ACTION INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Gulnar Bazhkenova

Journalist and Orda.kz founder Gulnar Bazhkenova has begun her trial in Almaty on charges of illegal entrepreneurship and spreading false information. Observers suggest the case is politically motivated following her criticism of the Foreign Minister.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Asset Mataev

The trial of KazTAG director Asset Mataev and editor Amir Kasenov is beginning in Almaty. They are accused of disseminating false information following their reporting on alleged fraud schemes at Freedom Finance.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Yulia Emelyanova

Russian activist Yulia Emelyanova, a member of the Navalny headquarters, has had her refugee status application rejected for a second time in Kazakhstan. She was detained in Almaty on charges of theft, which supporters claim is a pretext for extradition to Russia.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Aset Mataev

Journalist Aset Mataev was detained on hooliganism charges in Almaty. His lawyer claims the charges are a retaliation for his reporting on Freedom Finance and that he was only recognized as a victim after filing complaints.

HEALTH RISK

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Aidar MUBARAKOV

Arrested in relation to protests against the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. He has gone on a hunger strike to protest his persecution.

HEALTH RISK

LAST UPDATED · JUN 2, 2026

Fazylzhan Sydykov

Fazylzhan Sydykov is a civil society activist who expressed his position on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan among his friends. He was charged with attempting to organize mass riots. According to investigators, on the day of the referendum vote on October 6, 2024, he and other activists allegedly planned to organize riots involving force, arson, property destruction, and armed resistance. The defense argued there was no evidence of preparations for such unrest, noting that while the defendants opposed the construction of a nuclear power plant, they neither intended nor called for riots. On August 26, 2025, the court in Almalinsky District in Almaty sentenced Sydykov to four years of restricted freedom and a five-year ban on participating in public activities.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Nurlan Zhauylbaev

Nurlan Zhauylbaev is a civil society activist who opposed the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. He was charged with attempting to organize mass riots during a referendum vote. On August 26, 2025, the court in Almaty sentenced him to four years of restricted freedom and a five-year ban on participating in public activities.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

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