PRESS RELEASE. EXPANSION OF THE LIST OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN KAZAKHSTAN

March 17, 2021, Almaty.

By the decision of the Expert Council on March 17, 2021, the following persons were recognized as political prisoners:

Appasov Maksut is a civic activist from Ekibastuz. During the period of pre-trial investigation he is being held in custody on a criminal case under Article 405 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (participation in the activities of the prohibited organization Koshe partiyasy).

Kanaliev Abzal is a civic activist from Aktau. On November 21, 2020, he was placed under house arrest as a preventive measure under Article 405 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. However, on March 19, 2021 the measure of restraint was changed to detention in custody upon a petition of the investigation for publications in social networks.
Korbakov Мerey, a civic activist from Beineu village, Mangystau Oblast, during the period of pre-trial investigation he is being held in custody in a criminal case under Article 380 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Use of violence against a representative of the authorities”).
Yeseneyev Medet is a civic activist from Kostanay. In 2020, he was convicted under Article 405(2) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 1 year of restriction of freedom with the supervision of probation. On September 4, 2020, Medet Yeseneyev was sentenced to imprisonment instead of restriction of liberty for a “violation of probation conditions”.
Syzdykov Aidar is a civic activist from Nur-Sultan. During the period of pre-trial investigation he is being held in custody for 2 months in a criminal case under article 405 part 1, 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (participation in the activities of the prohibited organization Koshe partiyasy).

Brief information about the persons on the list:

1. Korbakov Merey is a civic activist from Beineu village, Mangystau Oblast. On November 17, 2020, M. Korbakov’s house was searched in a criminal case under Article 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On December 22, 2020, M. Korbakov was detained and placed in a temporary detention facility in Aktau city for 2 months. M. Korbakov has been prosecuted for his civic attitudes for more than a year. Also a criminal case under Article 378 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (an insult to a representative of the authority) was opened against Merey. According to the court judgment №4736-20-00-1/155 of 29.12.2020, M. Korbakov was sentenced to 40 hours of community service. Since 2012, Korbakov Merey has been in follow-up by the oncologist, he is a person with a 3-group of disability.

2. Yeseneyev Medet is a civic activist from Kostanay. By the court judgment of January 21, 2020 Yeseneyev Medet was sentenced to one year of restriction of freedom, part 2 of Article 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for displaying a banner in support of prisoners and writings in support of the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK). On September 04, 2020, the Kostanay court changed the sentence from “restriction” of freedom to “deprivation” of freedom. Yeseneyev M. was prosecuted on numerous occasions for his public activities. He has been detained at protests, followed and held administratively liable.

3. Kanaliev Abzal is a civic activist from Aktau. On November 20, 2020 A. Kanaliev was recognized as a suspect under Article 405 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The court of inquiry in Aktau sanctioned the house arrest as a measure of restraint. On March 19, 2021, the court of inquiry changed the house arrest to “detention in custody”. Abzal Kanaliev was prosecuted numerous times for taking part in video-challenges, pickets, and rendering humanitarian aid to the families of political prisoners and persons subjected to political persecution, he was administratively sanctioned with arrests and penalties under article 488 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Kanaliev Abzal is a person with a 3-group of disability, he is the only son of his mother.

4. Syzdykov Aidar is a civic activist from Nur-Sultan. Syzdykov Aydar was persecuted for his civic activism, expression of his opinion and demonstration of his civic engagement. He was repeatedly placed under administrative detention for participation in public activities in accordance with Article 488 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

5. Appasov Maksut is a civic activist from Ekibastuz. In November 2020, the search was conducted at the place of residence of Appasov M. without his presence, and then he was declared as wanted. On February 24, 2021, Appasov M. went to the interrogation, and was detained there. He is prosecuted for civic activism, and has been repeatedly subjected to administrative arrest under Article 488 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Expert Council:

Galym Ageleuov

Lukpan Akhmedyarov

Zauresh Battalova

Gulmira Birzhanova

Anara Ibraeva

Eugeny Zhovtis

Yerlan Kaliev

Bakhytzhan Toregozhina

Amangeldy Shormanbaev

March 17, 2021, Almaty