Dare to Dissent | The Case of Marat Zhylanbaev

On May 3, 2023, human rights activist and leader of the opposition party, “Alga Kazakhstan,” Marat Zhylanbaev, was arrested on administrative charges for participating in an “illegal” protest. Upon completing his administrative detention on May 23, he was immediately re-arrested on criminal charges for alleged participation in and financing so-called “extremist” activities. Following a closed trial, Mr. Zhylanbaev was convicted of all charges on November 29, 2023, and sentenced to seven years in prison followed by a three-year ban on the right to engage in social and political activities. The regime targeted him for his political activism, particularly his calls for an investigation into the events of “Bloody January,” a protest that resulted in the deaths of 240 civilians. HRF filed a submission to the UN Special Procedures on behalf of Mr. Zhylanbaev, seeking his immediate release.