MONITORING OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN from April 1 to 30, 2025 YEAR

April 1, Kostanay, Regional Institution No. 39 (“Cherniy Berkut”), which provides security for servicemen of Military Unit 6697, expressed concern that their internal kitchen had become public knowledge. They demanded that the NGO “Human Rights Center of the Kostanay Region” be held criminally responsible for making their corruption schemes public [1].

April 1, Maxim Kudryavtsev, a lawyer from the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, said, “The installation of electronic terminals in penitentiary institutions for submitting a complaint is certainly a positive step. However, filing a complaint is still difficult, and the institutions’ administrations also ‘keep their finger on the pulse’”[2].

April 1, Kokshetau , U.Negmetov, K. Mukhamedzhanov and A. Dzhakhin were released after administrative arrest for 6 days under Article 488, Part 7/12 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the RK for calling on city and regional residents to participate in rallies against price increases on March 23, 2025, via social media[3].

April 1, the Ukrainian information project “I Want to Live” published a list of 661 Kazakh citizens who allegedly took part in hostilities alongside the Russian armed forces in Ukraine on the social network X (formerly Twitter). At least 78 of them have been killed[4].

April 1, Semey, the Abay Region Juvenile Court considered the administrative cases against the parents of the teenagers who were involved in beating a peer. The court found them guilty of improper upbringing of children and sentenced one of the parents to five days of arrest under Article 127 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the others to a fine of 78,640 tenge[5].

April 2, West Kazakhstan Region, residents of Zhosaly, Tamdy and Kogeris settlements in Syrym district demanded the recall of their deputy. They stated that they no longer trust the deputy, Sh. Duysengalieva, who heads the Syrym district maslikhat[6].

April 2, Almaty region, Zhaugashty settlement, Institution No. 10. “Tell them that I am not going to apply for parole”, said A. Tleuzhan. He was convicted under Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) and sentenced to four years in prison for allegedly seizing the airport during the January 2022 events[7].

April 2, Almaty, the courts of the first and second instances issued two decisions rejecting the claims of activists. In the first case, the city court upheld the administrative court’s decision to dismiss Zh. Burabayeva’s suit against the city akimat. In the second case, the court dismissed M. Kuketaeva’s suit against the regional department of the Republican Center for Forensic Expertise[8].

April 2, Astana, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs I. Lepekha reminded that only the use of law enforcement officers’ uniforms for mercenary purposes is punishable. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is ready to consider proposals to prosecute the organizers of pranks that involve fictitious police officers[9].

April 21, Almaty, journalist Timur Nusimbekov reported visiting the Medeu District Police Station regarding a complaint filed against him by Elmira K., a resident of Talgar City. Elmira accused Nusimbekov of insulting the President of Kazakhstan[10].

April 2, Karaganda, the District Court No. 2 in the Kazybekbi district concluded the trial regarding the claim filed by human rights defender Zh. Aitmaganbetov against the Karaganda Region Police Department and the Ministry of Finance for compensation for moral and material damages. The claims against the regional police department were partially satisfied. The court ruled that the Police Department of the region must pay 100 thousand tenge in compensation and denied Aitmaganbetov’s claims against the Ministry of Finance[11].

April 2, Astana, Majilis Deputy E. Bapi suggested that extremist forces could be behind the flag bearing “Arab” symbols. “Who could be the customer? What is the goal of the organizers? These questions must be answered clearly by law enforcement agencies. In order to prevent such provocations from happening again, a thorough investigation is necessary”, E. Bapi said at the Majilis session[12].

April 2, Kyzylorda, activist and blogger T. Kuzembaev was sentenced to six years in prison under Article 194, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for extorting a local developer[13]. Human rights activists believe the criminal case against the activist is fabricated13.

April 3, Mangistau region, Zhanaozen city, Zh.Turganbaev, who had previously been subjected to an administrative arrest in February for attempting a hunger strike in front of the Akimat, made an appearance at the city administration once more. In his own words, he started the hunger strike because he was tired of being unemployed and poor and demanded that he be provided with a stable job[14].

April 3, Ust-Kamenogorsk, the court in partially recognized A. Bozhkov’s right regarding the akimat’s lack of response to the presence of poisonous substances in the air. The court recognized the inaction of Ust-Kamenogorsk Akim on its failure to notify the population about air pollution as illegal[15].

April 3, Almaty, Akimeir Kusheeva, the wife of D. Kusheeva, an Almaty blogger currently detained in Institution No. 72 on suspicion of extortion, stated that she had been unable to visit her husband for over two months. She publicly appealed to the president of Kazakhstan for help[16].

April 3, Almaty: The police department has not yet informed Iakov Vorontsov about the result of the second examination in the criminal case under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the RK. Police officers declined to answer questions based on Article 201 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (inadmissibility of disclosure of data)[17].

April 3, Astana, the court on civil cases rejected K.E. Safinov’s claim against “Ulys Media Group” LLP for illegally using his image and for recovery of losses and compensation for moral damages. The court also decided to recover from K.E. Safinov the expenses on payment of the lawyer’s fees in the amount of 300,000 tenge[18].

April 3, Atyrau region, S. Shapkenov, the akim of the Atyrau region, breached the law by failing to consider the trade union of machine builders’ complaint. The administrative court came to this conclusion. The court also ordered the akim to review the complaint within ten working days. The case concerns the dismissal of driver M. Tastemirov from KazGlobalSolution LLP in fall 2023[19].

April 4, Almaty, the KazTAG agency received an email that the editorial staff considers a threat after a number of publications about fraudulent schemes in the structures of Freedom Holding Corp., which is controlled by T. Turlov, a businessman of Russian origin[20].

April 4, Almaty, the Administrative Court found that actor S. Sharip used foul language during his conflict with his concubine A. Boteeva, violating the norms of behavior. Sharip admitted his guilt and confirmed the facts stated in the case materials. The actor was found guilty under Article 73, Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the RK and was sentenced to five days of arrest[21].

April 4, Almaty Region, Talgar District, Tuzdybastau Village: Two policemen, accompanied by two men in civilian clothes, arrived at the home of activist U. Ohanova. They informed her that they had come from Taldykorgan. They tried to forcibly take the activist to the police station but ultimately only took a letter of explanation from her[22].

April 4, Almaty, the Almalinsky Court No. 2 rejected all of the claims of the plaintiff, M. Ileshev, against the defendant, Otbasy Bank JSC. The court determined that the plaintiff had not provided sufficient evidence to support his claim of unlawful termination. Additionally, the court noted that the plaintiff had not submitted a written request to his employer for time off work, as required[23].

April 4, West Kazakhstan region, in the Syrym district Maslikhat deputy Sh. Duysengalieva asked the voters of the Zhosaly, Tamdy, and Kogeris districts to understand and forgive her. The voters had demanded her removal. She promised to do everything in their best interest[24].

April 4, Stepnogorsk, M. Zhylanbaev, the leader of the “Alga, Kazakhstan!” party, was sentenced to seven years in prison for violating Articles 258 and 405 of the Criminal Code of the RK. He sewed up his mouth in protest. Zhylanbaev began his protest on March 26 by declaring a hunger strike. He did this to express his disagreement with the actions of the Institution No. 4 administration, said his lawyer, M. Doskaraev[25].

April 4, Astana, Saken Mamash, former advisor to Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, was taken into custody on charges of systematically beating his wife. The Astana Police Department’s press service reported this[26].

April 5, Uralsk, during a press conference, Akim M. Baimenov said: «Reducing corruption risks is the top priority. I periodically hold staff meetings, either weekly or every 10 days. Yesterday, our colleagues, led by the deputy akim and all the department heads, toured the detention center.»[27].

April 5, Mangistau region, unemployed residents of Zhetybai, Kuryk, and Munayshy villages recorded a video message for the Kazakh authorities. In the video, the residents demanded that jobs at the employment center be distributed fairly and legally. Dozens of residents stood at the entry to Zhetybai. They were holding a placard. The placard read, “We demand fair work!”[28].

April 7, Stepnogorsk, M. Zhylanbaev, the leader of the “Alga, Kazakhstan!} party, was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment under Article 405, Part 2 and Article 258, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the RK. He appealed to the prosecutor of the Akmola region, claiming: “I ask you not to spread the lie that I am starving myself for therapeutic or health reasons. I have never gone hungry on the outside, and I’m not even aware of what that’s like[29].

April 7, Mangistau region, Munaila District Court Judge A. Aidarbayeva issued a ruling for the forced appearance of U. Turdieva in court. Police officers delivered the ruling to her relatives. U.Turdieva faces arrest for 30 days. This is under the fabricated case under Article 434, Part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the RK[30].

April 7, Astana, The Department of Cassation Courts of the Judicial Administration was set up in Kazakhstan on April 7. The decree shall enter into force from the date of its signing, except for changes in the composition of the commission, which will take effect from July 1, 2025[31].

April 7, Astana, Minister of Culture and Information A. Balaeva approved new rules for journalists’ activities at peaceful assemblies. The text of the document has been published in the reference bank of normative legal acts. The document outlines the procedures for journalists attending peaceful assemblies[32].

April 7, Balkhash, Zamzagul Khamit appealed to President K. Tokayev for help. Her son, a young specialist, was severely injured due to the negligence of his employers at Transkobalhash LLP. Z. Khamit expressed her hope for intervention and a fair decision, saying, “We hope that the guilty parties will be punished and that my son’s rights will be restored”[33].

April 7, Atyrau region, Zhylyoi district court partially granted the claim of the Public Association “Sectoral Trade Union of Machine Builders”. This was in the interest of A. Alibayev, an employee of KazGlobalSolution LLP. The court issued its decision on April 7, 375 days after the proceedings began. Alibayev was dismissed without legitimate reason, even though he is the current chairman of the trade union [34].

April 7, Atyrau,” Today I faced a shocking situation when a police officer on duty refused to introduce himself and show his official ID. When I asked to clarify his data, instead of engaging in dialogue and observing the law, he remained silent and ignored my request”, said journalist O. Vertinskaya[35].

April 7, Kostanay, the first expert meeting, titled “Dialogue on Human Rights”, was held. Representatives from many spheres gathered: NGOs, the Association of Property Owners, the media, state bodies, deputies, human rights defenders, and lawyers. The purpose of the meeting was to develop a regional plan of action for human rights[36].

April 7, Aktau, the Mangystau Regional Court No. 2 read the decision on Suleimenov Zh.’s claim against the Shipager rehabilitation center for compensation for moral and material damages. The court ruled that the claim by Suleimenov Zh. T. is satisfied in part. The center “Shipager” must pay Suleimenov Zh. T., the center must pay compensation for moral damage in the amount of 300,000 tenge[37].

April 8, Astana, “Recently, advertising materials and videos have spread on social networks, offering citizens the opportunity to sign a contract with the Armed Forces of other states in exchange for monetary rewards. The Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan provides for criminal responsibility for participation in armed conflicts”, reported the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs[38].

April 8, the UN Human Rights Committee registered a complaint filed by Kazakhstani human rights defenders in connection with the death of Ruslanbek Zhubanazarov, a resident of the Aktobe region, during the January #Qantar2022 events[39].

April 9, Mangistau region, Munaila district, “Actions indicating organized harassment against me and my family members were observed once again. This morning, police officers knocked on my brother and sister-in-law’s door. My underage niece opened the door. Without a legal representative present, she was interrogated, causing her severe stress and tears”, reported activist U. Turdiyeva[40].

April 9, Almaty, T. Yensebek, Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the RK. The Nauryzbay District Court resumed the trial for the criminal case against the author of the satirical public Qaznews24. Judge Beynegul Kaisina presided. Prosecutor: Didar Kabaev. The defendant, Temirlan Ynsebek, was not brought to the court. He took part in the trial online from the pre-trial detention center SI-72[41].

April 10, Almaty, activists M. Kochneva, D. Sharipov, A. Nurbulatova, and A. Konysbayev were taken to the Nauryzbay District Police Department after coming to court to support T. Yesenbek. They were fined 78,640 tenge for violating Article 434, Part 1/2 of the Republic of Code of Administrative Offenses of the RK. The reason was that the activists started chanting “Ashyk Sot!” (“Open Court!”) in the foyer after being denied entry to the courtroom[42].

April 10, Astana, journalist L. Akhmedyarov was detained and is being held at the capital’s police department. According to the press service release, “Astana Police Department, based on a complaint filed by a resident of Uralsk, has initiated a preliminary investigation under Article 274, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of the RK. As part of the criminal case, citizen A. was brought in for investigative actions”[43].

April 10, Astana, a woman wrote a complaint against journalist L. Akhmedyarov to the police. She had previously turned to him for help in returning her brother, who she claimed had been recruited to “earn money” in Russia. Based on her statement, a criminal case was initiated in Uralsk under Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for disseminating knowingly false information[44].

April 10, Taldykorgan, the City Court began considering the criminal case of the murder of Sh. Polat, a minor. Nine people are on trial. Initially, it was reported that there were 11 suspects. At the preliminary hearing, the state prosecutor announced the charges against the defendants[45].

April 10, Kostanay, the regional court ruled that the submission by the acting head of the Kostanay district probation service, Mendybaev D.B., to cancel the conditional conviction of Shevelev S.V., born in 1992, was illegal. Shevelev was sentenced under Article 188, Part 3, paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code to three years of suspended imprisonment, with probationary control. However, on March 3, 2025, the suspended sentence was revoked based on Mendybaev’s submission[46].

April 11, Astana, journalist and independent TikTok and YouTube channel author U. Shamshet reported on an attempt to pressure Professor Zhangeldy Shymshykov after he posted a video message about the dissolution of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. The next morning, April 12, a police officer from Astana called the professor and told him he was at his door, allegedly to invite him to a “conversation”[47].

April 1, Almaty, the Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” “called for strict observance of the law by all participants in the process. After a detailed study of all the circumstances, we hope that the criminal case against L. Akhmedyarov under Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan will be terminated. We will continue to closely monitor the situation”[48].

April 11, Ust-Kamenogorsk, despite the demands of the parents of eight-year-old A. Tsuranov, who died on the Sauletay playground nine months ago, the court ruled that the trial would be closed at the request of the educators. A. Tsuranov’s mother insisted on the trial being open and public[49].

April 11, Almaty, the Nauryzbay District Court sentenced T. Yensebek to five years of restricted liberty under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan. The court prohibited him from participating in public activities, including working as a journalist, attending rallies, giving interviews, and attending various events, including peaceful assemblies. He was only allowed to attend memorial events. The court also confiscated Yensebek’s phone and laptop as evidence[50].

April 11, eight reputable international organizations called on the presidents of the Central Asian states to prioritize human rights and fulfill the promises made at the EU-Central Asia summit. They urged the president of Kazakhstan, K. Tokayev, to release A. Tleuzhan, M. Zhylanbayev, E. Yelshibayev, and T. Yensebek[51].

April 11, Kokshetau, the court overturned the February 12, 2025, acquittal verdict of 12 Institution-1 employees in Atbasar. The employees were defendants in a case under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) for torturing prisoners, including the political activist T. Danebaev. The criminal case will be sent back to the same court for reconsideration with a new panel of judges[52].

April 11, North-Kazakhstan region, Akkayinsky district court considered an administrative case against Abilmazhinova A. under Article 456-2, Part 3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the RK. Abilmazhinova was accused by A. Pavlov, the victim. The court found Abilmazhinova guilty. She was guilty of posting and disseminating false information. This false information was disseminated by users of online platforms. The court sentenced her to a fine. The fine was 55048 tenge[53].

April 12, Zhambyl region, at the Ak Zhol checkpoint on the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Kazakh border guards did not allow Rune Steenberg to pass. Steenberg had been to Kazakhstan many times before and was interviewing Kazakhs who had left China for his documentary about the situation in Xinjiang. Steenberg examines the persecution of Turkic-speaking Muslims[54].

April 13, Astana, unified rules for resolving disputes between parents and other close relatives regarding the order of communication with the child in the event of divorce or separation came into force in Kazakhstan[55].

April 14, D. Smailova, the founder of the Kazakhstani foundation NeMolchy.kz, was detained in Montenegro. The foundation provides assistance to victims of violence. She was placed in a temporary detention center, where she said she would be held until morning before the extradition hearing[56].

April 14, Akmola region, Konysbai village, activist U. Negmetov wrote a letter to the Akmola regional prosecutor. “For a year, I have been the target of online provocations. My account has been hacked, and texts I had nothing to do with have been posted on my page”[57].

April 14, Almaty, KIBHR believes that the sentence handed down on April 11, 2025, in Almaty against the author of the satirical public Qaznews24, T. Yensebek, is exclusively political. The sentence, which was given under Article 174, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the RK, is a continuation of the persecution of opposition activists and bloggers for expressing their views. Yensebek was sentenced to five years of restriction of liberty[58].

April 14, Almaty, the International Foundation for the Protection of Speech “Adil soz” asked the Supreme Court to clarify the statute of limitations rule. The Foundation underscored the fact that there have been instances in which courts have adjudicated cases subsequent to the expiration of the statute of limitations. Nevertheless, the media were held accountable[59].

April 14, Astana, “I appeal to the President of Kazakhstan, K. Tokayev. Recently, I have witnessed signs of politically motivated persecution by certain state bodies in the Karaganda Region Akimat subdivision”, stated Murat Nurgalimov, editor-in-chief of the MSU.CITY channel in Karaganda[60].

April 14, Semey, the Polygon 21 Committee held a press conference addressing three key issues: supporting nuclear test victims, Kazakhstan’s participation in international initiatives to ban nuclear weapons, and updating national legislation[61].

April 15, Montenegro, a court released D. Smailova from custody. She is the head of the NeMolchi.kz foundation, which provides assistance to victims of violence. She had been detained the previous day at the request of Kazakhstan, which had put her on the wanted list in connection with the investigation of criminal cases against her. Smailova’s travel documents were ordered to be confiscated by the court in Podgorica[62].

April 15, Astana, despite the court’s decision in Montenegro, Kazakhstan will continue to work to hold Smailova criminally responsible. There is currently no extradition treaty between Kazakhstan and Montenegro, which is why the foreign state refused to extradite Smailova[63].

April 15, Aktobe, the Administrative Court of the Aktobe Region held a hearing on M. Dauylov’s claim against the Aktobe akim. The court ruled: “To reject the plaintiff’s claim for restoration of the missed time limit for filing a lawsuit. The administrative claim and all attached documents will be returned to the plaintiff” [64].

April 15, journalist L. Akhmedyarov appeared on the YouTube channel “Prosto Journalistika” (Just Journalism) and provided details about the criminal case filed against him under Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the RK, which is currently under investigation by the West Kazakhstan regional police. He presented audio files of his conversation with a woman who had lodged a complaint against him. She confessed that she had done it because the police had pressured her[65].

April 16, Almaty, opposition activist Zh. Mamai was questioned for five days. He was sentenced to a six-year suspended sentence on charges of “organizing an illegal rally” during the January events. His lawyer said that Zh. Mamai was summoned as a witness to the office of the General Prosecutor’s Office in Almaty last week[66].

April 16, Astana, Kazakhstan will abolish the local police service because “its creation did not meet expectations”. Instead, the country will have two departments: one for preventing offenses and one for ensuring public security. The parliament is proposing amendments to the law[67].

April 16, Konayev , the Regional Court ruled that a psychiatric hospital must pay Saniya, a resident of the Almaty Region, 2 million tenge in moral damages. Saniya was illegally admitted and held in the ward for three to four days. The woman’s nine-year-old son was forced to spend ten months in a specialized institution for children facing difficult life situations[68].

April 17, Astana, the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan considered the extent to which the country’s family law complies with its constitution. The court concluded that the right to determine nationality should take real life into account, not just the letter of the law[69].

April 17, Almaty, lawyer Murat Adam, officially accepted an assignment. The assignment came from political and public figure S. Bokayev. Adam will represent Bokayev’s interests. He will do so in a high-profile legal confrontation with Russian blogger-provocateur Anton Budarov[70].

April 18, Ust-Kamenogorsk, the Tarasovs of East Kazakhstan held another protest in the lobby of the regional police department. They demanded a personal meeting with the head of the department to request an official investigation involving the Tarasovs against department officers[71].

April 18, Almaty, the city akimat of Almaty did not give permission to hold a rally for improving the working conditions of crane operators. The rally was planned for April 20 in the park behind the Sary Arka cinema. According to the Akimat’s response to the notification about the rally, the city administration explained this by saying that there are already planned cultural events[72].

April 18, Astana, Kazakhstan formed a working group to develop a draft law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The order was published on the Ministry of Culture’s website. The working group includes 38 people. Among them are Vice Minister A. Kurmanova; B. Nurgazieva, president of the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan; deputies; lawyers; public foundation representatives; and others[73].

April 18, Almaty — Shadmet Daulet is an example of how the system eliminates those who demand openness, transparency, and accountability. He is a professional assessor who has spent years developing the community, training colleagues, and participating in the life of the Chamber. However, as soon as he raised the issue of irregularities, the repression began[74].

April 19, Almaty hosted the third performance of the QAN play, which is based on the events of January 2022. The creators defined the genre of the performance as “screenlife investigation”. They emphasized that the play “does not accuse; it shows how the events have affected people, neighborhoods, streets, and each of us”[75].

April 20, Aktobe region, Kandyagash city, T.Reimov. A protocol was drawn up under Article 456-2 of the RK Code of Administrative Offenses for posting a video in which the activist favors Kazakhstan’s independence and sovereignty and opposes the creation of a union state with Russia, following Belarus’s example[76].

Astana, April 21 — Since the beginning of 2025, 40 people have died and 293 workers have been injured in workplace accidents in Kazakhstan. These figures were published by the Committee of State Labor Inspection of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan[77].

April 21, Ust-Kamenogorsk, the administrative court of the East-Kamenogorsk region in held a hearing on L. V. Kartashev’s claim against the Akim of Ust-Kamenogorsk regarding the illegality of the Akim’s refusal to grant permission for a peaceful rally. Guided by Articles 151, 152, and 156 of the Administrative Procedural Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the court refused the administrative claim of L. V. Kartashev against the Akim of Ust-Kamenogorsk City regarding the illegality of the Akim’s refusal to grant permission for a peaceful rally[78].

April 21, Almaty, journalist T. Nusimbekov reported visiting the Medeusky district police station regarding a complaint filed against him by Elmira K., a Talgar resident who accused him of insulting the president of Kazakhstan. The police took a written statement from Nusimbekov. The journalist stated that he has never had, nor does he currently have, a TikTok account[79].

April 21, Stepnogorsk, Zarelov, a senior operative at Institution No. 4, carried out an illegal check on lawyer M. Doskaraev[80].

April 21, Ust-Kamenogorsk, the City Administrative Court reinstated Ch. Kurmankhan, a former orphanage resident, to the legal housing queue. City officials had removed him from the list of those in need of housing five years ago. The court recognized the housing commission’s decisions from March 18 and June 24, 2020, as illegal and ordered the Akim of the city to restore the plaintiff to the list of those in need of housing, preserving the original queue date of October 15, 2012[81].

April 22, Taraz, A. Kozhabekova, an employee of the Committee for Legal Statistics and Special Records of the General Prosecutor’s Office for the Zhambyl Region, recorded a video message for the President of Kazakhstan. In the video, she described systemic violations and pressure within the agency. According to Kozhabekova, the committee regularly deletes information from the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations, allowing guilty persons to avoid responsibility. The General Prosecutor’s Office sent a special group to the region for an inspection[82].

April 22, Atyrau region, workers from the recruiting company Kasibi Tandau LLP dispersed after demanding a wage increase at the Tengiz field. The question of increasing wages by 50% remains unanswered. Company management stated that they analyze wages and market prices annually and plan to raise wages at the end of the year[83].

April 22, Kostanay, builder Ramil showed the poor quality of a new building in the city. He was fired after publishing a video on social media. In the video, which was published on TikTok, Ramil expressed his horror at the poor quality of new construction in Kostanay[84].

April 22, Taldykorgan, journalist S. Duisenova said that a new criminal case had been opened against her under Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the RK and that she had been summoned to the police. “Someone decided that I deliberately published false information on my page”, said S. Duisenova[85].

April 22, Uralsk, Adilet Karataev, a teacher at the Kurmangazy College of Arts, recorded a video message for President K. Tokayev. In the video, he requested that the staff be rotated and that the head of the educational institution, Nurzhan Sertekov, be transferred to work elsewhere. According to the teacher, a number of teachers in the college do not work according to their specialization and instead occupy other people’s places[86].

April 23, Astana, weekend walks that transition into a morning marathon dedicated to political prisoners. “What a great idea”, said activist A. Sadvakasova[87].

April 23, Atyrau, Vadim Ni, a well-known environmentalist and founder of the “Save the Caspian Sea” movement, filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He demanded that the ministry disclose the terms of its agreements with major oil companies operating in the Caspian Sea[88].

April 23, Almaty, A. Abishev was fined 78,640 tenge (20 MCI) under Article 456-2, Part 3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the RK for allegedly disseminating false information. Police officers filed a report against him for reposting on Facebook a publication by opposition politician M. Ablyazov[89].

April 23, Kiev, Nurgul Sadykova, the widow of the murdered Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadykov, stated that she was being followed. She wondered what the motives of her followers were: did they intend to intimidate, kill, or kidnap her?[90].

April 23, Stepnogorsk, Institution No. 4, M. Zhylanbaev, leader of the party “Alga, Kazakhstan!”, Articles 258, 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan , 7 years of imprisonment. A political prisoner reported that he is not receiving newspapers, is not allowed access to the terminal, and is not receiving letters[91].

April 23, Almaty, the Expert Council of Kazakhstani Human Rights Defenders recognized eight more people imprisoned for their political activity or civic position as political prisoners: Adilbekov Daniyar, Syzdykov Aidar, Anafina Lazat, Mubarakov Aidar, Zhauylbaev Nurlan, Sydykov Fazylzhan, Temirgaliev Nurlan, and Kazakbay Zhanat [92]

April 23, Semey, the Polygon 21 Committee’s employees work hard. They meet with international delegations, speak at conferences, and defend the rights of nuclear test victims. Others work “behind the scenes”, organizing meetings, preparing documents, serving dastarkhan for guests, and solving hundreds of small yet extremely important issues[93].

April 24, Astana, President K. Tokayev delivered a speech at the regular session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. In his speech, President Tokayev criticized critics of the Kazakh authorities, calling them “champions for freedom of expression”. He also accused these critics of “paid attacks on the people” and “attempts to blackmail state bodies”[94].

April 23, Ridder, East Kazakhstan region: Despite authorities’ statements and President K. Tokayev’s calls to combat juvenile violence, the real situation on the ground is often diametrically opposed. There was a case of severe bullying in Ridder. The victim was a minor girl. This clearly demonstrates the indifference of the law enforcement system. It also demonstrates the indifference of the local authorities[95].

April 24, Kostanay, the first “Raising an Informed Generation” greenhouse for the inclusive education of children was opened at the private children’s development center “Baby”. There, children learn to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers; observe natural cycles; and develop a thoughtful attitude toward the world around them. About 70 children between the ages of 3.5 and 7 attend the center[96].

April 24, Almaty, the Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” is concerned about the pre-trial investigation launched against journalist S. Duisenova under Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This investigation is based on a statement by the director of Tavidi LLC[97].

April 24 — Karaganda residents on S. Rakhimov Street have been living in inhumane conditions without water for a month. The lack of water makes it impossible to meet basic household needs: people cannot wash, use the toilet, or cook food. In desperation, people have turned to President K. Tokayev, believing that he will hear their pleas[98].

April 25, Almaty, Ye.Zhovtis, a human rights defender, lawyer, publicist, and director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights, spoke on “ Why there is still no civil society in Central Asia” in his interview[99].

April 25, Astana, administrative court acquitted blogger Ali-Asker Baiguzhin, author of satirical series about law enforcement officers. Proceedings under Article 434 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the RK of 23.04.025 were terminated for lack of corpus delicti[100].

April 25, Aktau, blogger A. Sarsenbayev reported that an administrative case had been opened against him under Article 73-3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “Defamation”, in connection with a publication in which he mentioned the possible “patronage»
of the anti-corruption service to the owner of a plot of land in the 15th microdistrict of the city[101].

April 25, Aktau, shareholders of the Aq Qala residential complex came to the Akimat and demanded a meeting with regional head N. Kilybay. They invested in shared construction, yet they only see their square meters on paper. The developer is on trial, and construction has stopped. In total, approximately 800 families have been affected[102].

April 26 in the Abay region, a prisoner was brutally murdered at Institution No. 20. The victim, Ayan Utegenov, was a believer from the Aktobe region. The author of the channel “Base” makes reference to a source within the colony [103].

April 27, Astana: “More budget money has started to be spent on state information policy. Enormous sums of money from our taxes are spent on maintaining state-owned media outlets that tell us how well the country is doing”, reports the Legal Media Center[104].

April 27, Astana, a video from Astana’s Central Park is spreading online. It shows police officers roughly handcuffing a cyclist and taking him to the station. The reasons for the detention are not yet known. We are waiting for official information”, reported Qazpress.kz[105].

April 27, Astana, historian A. Grozin was denied entry to Kazakhstan at passport control. This was done without explanation. Consequently, the historian returned to Moscow. Commenting on the situation at the border, K. Zatulin, the director of the Institute of CIS countries and deputy of the State Duma of Russia, noted that “ambiguous, unfriendly behavior of some representatives of Kazakhstan in relation to guests is becoming common practice”[106].

April 28, Karaganda region, Temirtau city, the police drew up a report on an administrative offense under Article 456-2, Part 3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the RK against former Kazakhmys employee B. Adilova for disseminating false information about the corporation. The police stated that the case had been referred to the court[107].

April 28, Astana — The new format of open NLAs (Normative Legal Acts) has caused outrage among lawyers and deputies. They claim that the brief paraphrases of “Open NLAs” violate Kazakhstan’s international obligations and are demanding the return of the complete NLA drafts[108].

April 28, Astana — “More than 1,400 accidents occur annually at enterprises in Kazakhstan, of which approximately 200 are fatal”, reports the press service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population[109].

April 28, Almaty, concerned teachers gathered again in front of the Zhanuya orphanage. They reported new, outrageous violations that have been occurring for years. Current teachers at the Zhanuya orphanage in Almaty accuse the institution’s management of attempting to take over the housing and state benefits of orphans[110].

April 28, Astana, the Commission on Access to Information held a regular meeting in online format. The topic of discussion was how to make the work of maslikhats in Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent more transparent. The problems encountered by journalists when working with maslikhats were discussed by G. Birzhanova. She mentioned that journalists have difficulty accessing both online and offline events [111].

April 29, Almaty, there was a discussion about problems in forensic medical examinations related to torture and other issues. The three parties involved in investigating cases of torture—lawyers, human rights defenders, prosecutors, and experts—attempted to determine what the system lacks in order to reach high-quality conclusions that will not be questioned[112].

Aktau, April 29 — A notable increase in the number of criminal, administrative, and civil cases was noted in the Mangistau region in the first quarter of the year. During the reporting period, the courts finalized 412 criminal cases against 462 individuals, which is 114 cases and 117 individuals more than in the same period of 2024. A total of 3,629 administrative offense cases and 4,989 civil cases were completed.[113].

April 29, Astana, the Police Department’s press service explained a video showing police officers handcuffing a cyclist. “Police officers wanted to warn about the need to observe traffic rules. The man immediately reacted aggressively. He refused to comply with legal requirements. The police officers were forced to take the measures provided for by law and take him to the police checkpoint”[114].

April 29, Almaty region, the Committee on the Protection of Children’s Rights conducted an inspection in the Almaty region. Together with the regional commissioner, they randomly inspected the situation in schools in seven districts of the region. The inspection revealed cases of harassment by teachers, violence, and extortion[115].

April 29, Karaganda, residents of the Kirzavod No. 3 and 4 neighborhoods are forced to live in conditions of an ecological disaster. An odor from the Karaganda Su LLP sewage treatment facilities is spreading towards the residential areas. A direct appeal is made to President K. Tokayev by citizens, with the hope that their concerns will finally be heard and real measures will be taken[116].

April 30, Astana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan approved new rules for obtaining an investor visa. These rules aim to strengthen the country’s investment attractiveness and support long-term business partnerships. Foreign citizens who have invested at least $300,000 in the authorized capital of Kazakhstani companies or in local equity securities can submit an electronic investor visa application[117].

April 30, Pavlodar region, Aksu city, E. Kurmanov was arrested under Article 434, Part 2 of the RK Code of Administrative Offenses for 15 days. The reason is that on April 22, 2024, he was in a public place near the “Aigerim” store and used foul language, thereby committing petty hooliganism for the second time in a year[118].

April 30, the Majilis of the Parliament in Astana adopted the new Tax Code in the second reading. MP A. Kuspan said: “I opposed the basic concept of amendments to the Tax Code for the simple reason that this bill, as it was presented by the government, does not contain anything conceptually new”[119].

April 25, Astana, the Judicial Board for Administrative Cases denied an appeal of a lawsuit filed by Vadim Ni, the founder of the environmental movement «Save the Caspian Sea”.The lawsuit’s aim was to obtain the environmental and financial terms of production sharing agreements (PSAs) and concession agreements currently in effect for the country’s three largest oil and gas fields: Karachaganak, Kashagan, and Tengiz[120].

April 30, Uralsk, the prosecutor’s office ordered an inspection after Uralsk resident Ekaterina Kairova accused police officers of arbitrariness and beatings[121].

April 30, Karaganda, prosecutors officially refused to answer the inquiry regarding the controversial construction in Central Park. It later became known that construction in Central Park was prohibited due to the public outcry it caused[122].

April 30, Astana, police officers found 270 kilograms of narcotics and stolen weapons in the possession of two men. Preliminary investigations suggest that the weapons were stolen during the January 2022 events in the city of Taraz[123].

April 30, Almaty, — “I am an absolutely law-abiding citizen of Kazakhstan, but the police literally control all my movements”, said Nurtaza Kadirniyazov, a scientist and professor, after he noticed that he was under surveillance[124].

[1] https://ok.ru/sor1113/topic/156415981247839

[2] https://bureau.kz/novosti/parol-tyurma/

[3]https://www.facebook.com/marat.zhanuzakov.2025/posts/pfbid02ssdUb1YPSiEVSufwtJNfbbCR65RKRSgwzkrBDFQPqExyitnz4dfVxGoTaPqM6TChl

[4] https://ulysmedia.kz/news/49214-bolee-600-kazakhstantsev-otpravilis-voevat-na-storone-rossii-spisok/

[5] https://semeyainasy.media/2025/04/01/roditelej-nesovershennoletnih-uchastvovavshih-v-drake-v-semee-privlekli-k-otvetstvennosti/

[6]https://www.facebook.com/tamara.eslamova1/posts/pfbid02ygS8bGnSNsqrDLVGQC6b6JNz3M1zt8M5Q8NHH7JXCWrRVDKBuc5x5UJ3Moi58mWrl

[7] https://respublika.kz.media/archives/143517

[8] https://bureau.kz/novosti/dva-proczessa-dva-otkaza/

[9]https://total.kz/ru/news/vnutrennyaya_politika/mvd_predlozhili_zakonodatelno_nakazivat_za_pranki_s_uchastiem_speznaza_date_2025_04_02_13_37_32

[10] https://rus.azattyq.org/a/zhurnalista-v-almaty-vyzvali-v-politsiyu-po-zayavleniyu-zhitelnitsy-obvinivshey-ego-v-publikatsii-oskorbleniya-prezidenta-/33392197.html

[11] https://t.me/AdalSotKz/2241

[12] https://kaztag.kz/ru/news/za-flagom-s-arabskoy-simvolikoy-mogut-stoyat-ekstremistskie-sily-bapi