PRESS RELEASE
INCREASE IN DESIGNATED POLITICAL PRISONERS IN KAZAKHSTAN
Published 23 February 2026 Almaty
Upon completion of a comprehensive evidentiary review on 23 February 2026, the Expert Council has formally designated the individuals listed below as political prisoners:
1. Amangeldy Dzhakhin, a civil activist based in Shortandy village, Akmola region, chairperson of the organising committee for the Alga, Kazakhstan! political initiative, an entity seeking official registration. He assumed this role following the imprisonment of the group’s former leader, Marat Zhylanbayev. Mr Dzhakhin had previously been subjected to multiple administrative sanctions. These include fines and periods of administrative detention imposed in connection with his participation in unsanctioned rallies, as well as visits to Penitentiary Institution No. 4 in Stepnogorsk, where the long-distance runner Mr Zhylanbayev is currently serving a custodial sentence. In 2023, he stood as a candidate for the Majilis, the lower house of Parliament. He and his associates have reportedly submitted registration documents for the Alga, Kazakhstan! party to the Ministry of Justice on more than 25 occasions; to date, the party has not been granted official registration. Authorities have charged Mr Dzhakhin under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, specifically Article 258 (1) «Alleged financing of extremist activities or terrorism», Article 405 (2) «Alleged involvement in the activities of an organisation following a court decision to ban or liquidate its operations due to extremism». Following his arrest on 20 November 2025 Mr Dzhakhin remains in pre-trial detention in Kokshetau. A pre-trial investigation remains ongoing.
2. Mirbolat Bishuinov, an Almaty-based journalist, social media and political activist. A member of the Zheltoksan movement, Mr Bishuinov has a twenty-year career in national broadcasting, having held positions at the state-owned Kazakhstan TV and KTK channel. He is the founder of the digital platform Zhurnalisttik Zertteuler Agenttigi (Agency for Journalistic Investigations). In 2023, he stood as a candidate for the Majilis, the lower house of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On 28 December 2022, Court No. 2 of the Medeu District of Almaty convicted Mr Bishuinov under Article 174 (1) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertains to the «Incitement of social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious discord». The Court imposed a custodial sentence of four years’ imprisonment. The appellate court subsequently upheld the original verdict and sentence.
3. Yergali Kulbaev, a civil activist based in Shymkent. He was charged under Article 194 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertains to the «Extortion». Mr Kulbaev has been remanded in custody at a pre-trial detention facility in Kyzylorda since 23 October 2025. The substantive trial commenced on 19 December 2025 before the Kazalinsky District Court of the Kyzylorda Region. Previously, by a judgment dated 18 May 2022, Mr Kulbaev had been convicted under Articles 272 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «Participation in mass riots» in connection with the nationwide January 2022 unrest. For those charges, he had received a four-year suspended sentence. Criminal proceedings were brought concurrently against fellow activist Aklima Yertaikyzy. In 2022, Mr Kulbaev and Ms Yertaikyzy co-founded the Uly Kosh public foundation, an organisation established to conduct independent electoral observation in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The pre-trial investigation was initiated following their monitoring of a polling station during the Kazaly District Akim (mayoral) election. On 12 February 2026, the Kazaly District Court convicted Mr Kulbaev and summarily sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment.
4. Damir Kusheyev, an Almaty-based social media and civil activist, has been held in continuous pre-trial and trial detention since January 2025 at Institution No. 72 in Almaty. Mr Kusheyev was indicted under Article 194 (2) Paragraph 4 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertains to the «Extortion». The criminal proceedings against him have been conducted before a presiding judge and a jury since September 10, 2025. He stood trial alongside three co-defendants: Ruslan Karimov, Kurmangazy Aitmukanov, and Andrey Belyansky. On 19 February 2026, the Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court of Almaty found Mr Kusheyev guilty of the charges brought against him and sentenced to a term of nine years’ imprisonment.
5. Askar Nurmagan, a Karaganda-based civil activist. Since 25 June 2025, he has been indicted under Articles 179 (2), 24 (1), and 272 (1) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertain to the «Propaganda of or public calls for the seizure or retention of power», «Preparation of a crime and attempted criminal offence» and «Organisation of mass riots». The prosecution’s case relies in substantial part upon transcripts of conversations obtained via covert surveillance and undercover investigative operations conducted by law enforcement authorities. Mr Nurmagan and his co-defendants have been held in state custody since June 2025. Mr Nurmagan has on multiple occasions been subjected to administrative liability, including repeated terms of administrative detention ranging from five to fifteen days. In 2021, Mr Nurmagan had been previously convicted under Article 405 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertain to the «Participation in the activities of an organisation following its designation as extremist» and had been sentenced to one and a half years’ restriction of liberty. Mr Nurmagan is charged alongside four co-defendants: Abduylі Tagay, Duysenbek Zhakashev, Kaysar Ozbek, and Talgat Ashirov. All five individuals are currently remanded in custody at Detention Facility No. 72 in Almaty. The matter is currently listed for trial before the Almaly District Court.
6. Mirshat Sarsenbaev, a social media and civil activist based in the village of Karabalyk, Kostanay Region. He is the author of a YouTube channel Mirshat Sarsenbaev’s Inconvenient Questions, dedicated to investigative reporting on issues of public concern affecting local residents. Mr Sarsenbaev has been in remand since 28 February 2025. He has been charged under Article 194 (4) Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan which pertains to the «Extortion». The criminal prosecution was formally initiated following the publication of an investigative video entitled Is the Disposal of the Karabalyk Poultry Farm Legal?. The substantive trial commenced on 8 October 2025, and remains ongoing. The Karabalyk Poultry Farm has been recognised in the proceedings as the injured party (complainant) within the proceedings.
7. Baqytzhan Zhanseitov, a Karaganda-based civil activist. On 26 December 2025, he was formally indicted under Articles 272 (1) and 24 (3) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertain to the «Organisation of mass riots» and «Preparation of a crime and attempted criminal offence». Mr Zhanseitov has been held in continuous state custody since 30 June 2025. At the time of writing, the criminal case file is reportedly under review, and proceedings remain ongoing. This criminal proceeding involves a total of seven defendants currently held in remanded custody. Mr. Zhanseitov is being prosecuted alongside six other individuals: Bolatbek Tokmurzin, Yerlan Keneshbaev, Toregeldy Amanzholov, Bolatbek Zenilkhan, Almas Akhmetzhanov, and Aidar Baissagatov.
8. Bekzat Maksutkan, leader of the unregistered political association Nağyz Atajurt Eriktileri (translated as True Atajurt Volunteers). The movement has publicly advocated for the human rights of ethnic Kazakhs residing in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. Mr Maksutkan has on multiple occasions submitted documentation to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan seeking formal registration of the association as a political party within the state’s regulatory framework. To date, registration has not been granted. He has reportedly been subjected to recurrent administrative penalties under Articles 488 and 489 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertain to the «Participation in unsanctioned public assemblies». These measures are understood to have included administrative fines and periods of administrative detention, including in connection with his public support for detained journalist Duman Mukhammedkarim and attendance at court proceedings. On 19 December 2025, Mr Maksutkan was formally indicted under Article 174 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertains to the «Incitement of social, national, tribal, racial, class or religious discord». Since 21 November 2025, he has been held in remanded custody. The trial is currently active within the judicial system of Taldykorgan. A number of other individuals identified as members of Nağyz Atajurt Eriktileri are also currently held in custody in connection with the same criminal case. Those held at Detention Facility No. 71 in Taldykorgan are reported to include Tursynbek Kabi, Nurkeldi Nursapa, Yerkinbek Nurakyn, Bakytnur Nurmukan, Yergali Nurlybaev, Yerbol Nurlybaev, Bedelkhan Kabylashim, Beyssenali Akzhigit and Turdybay Kanat. Those reportedly detained at Detention Facility No. 72 in Almaty include Batylbek Baykazy, Margulan Nurdangazy and Kuandyk Koszhanov.
9. Adilet Sagindykuly, an Aktau-based civil activist. On 15 January 2026, the authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan formally indicted Mr. Sagyndykuly under Article 274 (4) Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which pertains to the «Dissemination of knowingly false information». The court has granted a prosecutorial application for remand in custody for the duration of the pre-trial investigation.
Expert Council:
Galym Ageleuov
Lukpan Akhmedyarov
Zauresh Battalova
Gulmira Birzhanova
Anara Ibrayeva
Yevgeniy Zhovtis
Yerlan Kaliyev
Bakhytzhan Toregozhina
23 February 2026, Almaty
Обсуждение закрыто.