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Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 28 individuals fighting for freedom and justice

Documented Cases.

Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 28 individuals fighting for freedom and justice across Russia, Belarus, Georgia, and Central Asia.

Country

Urgency

Gulnaz Serikbayeva

Activist Gulnaz Serikbayeva was sentenced to 3 years in prison for 'inciting discord' via Facebook posts regarding ethnic relations. She denies the charges, stating she was exercising her constitutional right to criticize policies.

HEALTH RISK

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 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

Oral, West Kazakhstan

Journalism

Lukpan Ahmediyarov

Independent journalist Lukpan Ahmediyarov was detained by police in Oral following an international search request from the Russian Federation. Ahmediyarov is known for his YouTube project 'Just Journalism' and for criticizing government corruption.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Azamat Omarov

Blogger Azamat Omarov, creator of the YouTube channel 'Akhual Segode', was detained by police following an allegation that he pushed a man. Omarov claims the incident was a misunderstanding or a setup.

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

Muratbai Zhumagaliev

Social activist Muratbai Zhumagaliev has been detained for two months in Aktau. While police claim drugs were found, his family and supporters believe the arrest is a setup related to his activism regarding the 2011 Zhanaozen massacre.

URGENT ACTION INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

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

Mansur Movlaev

Chechen activist Mansur Movlaev's appeal for refugee status in Kazakhstan was rejected. He faces extradition to Russia, where he faces charges of extremism and fears for his life.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Turkistan, Kazakhstan

Activism

Kural Seitkhanuly

Activist Kural Seitkhanuly was sentenced to two months in prison in Turkistan for allegedly disclosing personal data. The charges stem from a complaint filed by a blogger regarding information shared on Facebook.

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

Sultan Sarsemailiev

A trial has begun in Atyrau against Sultan Sarsemailiev, accused of murdering four members of a single family. He was arrested in Indonesia and extradited to Kazakhstan.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Gadzhi Gadzhiev

Entrepreneur Gadzhi Gadzhiev has filed a lawsuit against journalist Natalya Sadykova for defamation. Human rights groups label this a SLAPP suit intended to silence her investigation into the death of her husband, Aidos Sadykov.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan

Protest

Nazigul Maksutkhan

An appeals court upheld the convictions of 19 'Atazhurt' activists accused of inciting interethnic discord during a protest against China. Eleven individuals received 5-year prison sentences.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Botagoz Omarova

Journalist Botagoz Omarova, author of the 'Aitpa, Botagoz' Telegram channel, has had her detention extended by one month. She is being investigated for allegedly spreading false information related to a construction company and the Presidential Administration.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 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

Abay Turikpenbayev

Abay Turikpenbayev, the former president of Aktau Sea Port, was sentenced to 2 years in prison for corruption. His lawyer claims the verdict is unlawful and intends to appeal.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Convicted