PRESS RELEASE UPDATE (EXPANSION) OF THE LIST OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN KAZAKHSTAN

By the decision of the Expert Council of January 25, 2023, the following persons were recognized as political prisoners:

Urazbayev Amangeldy, a civic activist from Uralsk: he has been repeatedly subjected to administrative arrests for holding peaceful protest actions. He is charged under Article 405 “Organization and participation in the activities of a public or religious association or other organization after court decision on the prohibition of their activities or liquidation in connection with carrying out by them extremism or terrorism” of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On December 15, 2022, he was taken into custody in the courtroom during another trial.

2-8. “Group 7”: Andreyeva Bagdagul, Ilipbaev Aidos, Kiysymbaev Akylzhan, Kulzhakhanov Olzhas, Konar Sagynkul, Nurlanov Tenilik, Torekulov Yerzhan, civic activists who are currently in custody. They are charged under Part 2 of Article 179 “Propaganda or public calls for seizure or retention of power, as well as seizure or retention of power or forcible change of constitutional order of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, Part 1 of Article 272 “Mass riots” and Part 1 of Article 24 “Preparation for a crime and attempted crime” of the Criminal Code of the RK. In the run-up to the presidential election in Kazakhstan, on November 18, 2022, they were detained and taken to the pre-trial detention facility of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty. They are recognized as political prisoners and their criminal case is considered politically motivated until the authorities provide indisputable evidence of calls and/or actions aimed at seizing power, violently changing the constitutional order and organizing mass unrest.

Kaziev Yerkyn, a civic activist from the city of Kaskelen: he has been repeatedly subjected to administrative arrests for holding peaceful protest actions. He is charged under Part 1 of Article 380 “Threat or use of violence against a representative of authority”, Article 405, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He was taken into custody on October 27, 2022.
Aliaskarov Bauyrzhan, a civic activist from Almaty region. He was engaged in private taxi service in the city of Almaty. He was injured during the January events. He is charged under Article 272, Parts 1, 2, 3 and Article 380, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the moment he is being held in the pre-trial detention facility in Taldykorgan
Makin Dauren, a well-known Kazakhstani artist: he was taken into custody on April 30, 2022 on suspicion of “propaganda of terrorism”. He is charged under Part 2 of Article 256 “Propaganda of terrorism or public calls to commit an act of terrorism” of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He is being held in the detention center in Astana.

Brief information about the persons on the list:

1.Urazbayev Amangeldy, a civic activist from Uralsk. On April 19, 2022, a pre-trial investigation was initiated in connection with a crime under Article 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where A. Urazbayev had the status of a witness entitled to protection. On April 26, 2022, he was declared a suspect. On April 28, 2022, the examining magistrate authorized “house arrest” as a measure of restraint. Starting from December 9, 2022, in the Uralsk city court there has been an off-line trial against civil activists A. Urazbayev and M. Yeskendirova. On December 15, 2022, Urazbayev was taken into custody in the courtroom.

2-8. “Group 7”. In the run-up to the presidential election, the National Security Committee detained seven people who, according to law enforcement officials, were planning to organize mass disturbances on the day of the presidential election on November 20, 2022 (including for the purpose of seizing administrative buildings in several cities of the country). The security service conducted the operation jointly with the prosecution authorities, and the arrests were made in Almaty city and Almaty region.

Andreyeva Bagdagul, a civic activist: she is detained on charges under Article 179(2), Article 272(1), Article 24(1) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Ilipbaev Aidos: by the decision of the head of the investigative group of the Department of the National Security Committee in Almaty on November 18, 2022, his acts were qualified under Article 272, Part 1, Article 24, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the RK.

Kiysymbaev Akylzhan, a civic activist: by a ruling of the head of the investigative group of the Department of the National Security Committee in Almaty dated November 18, 2022 his acts were qualified under Article 179, Part 2, Article 272, Part 1, and Article 24, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Kiysymbaev was injured during the January 2022 events, detained and tortured. The criminal prosecution of Kiysymbaev under Article 272, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the RK for his participation in the January events was stopped due to the absence of the elements of a criminal offence. Kiysymbaev took part in many rallies, and demanded that the police officers involved in suppressing protests and torture be held accountable.

Kulzhakhanov Olzhas, by the decision of the head of the investigative group of the Department of the National Security Committee in Almaty dated November 18, 2022 his acts were qualified under Article 272, Part 1, Article 24, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Konar Sagynkul, by the decision of the head of the investigative group of the Department of the National Security Committee in Almaty dated November 18, 2022 his acts were qualified under Article 179, Part 2, Article 272, Part 1, Article 24, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Nurlanov Tenilik, by the decision of the head of the investigative group of the Department of the National Security Committee in Almaty dated November 18, 2022 his acts were qualified under Article 179, Part 2, Article 272, Part 1, Article 24, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Torekulov Yerzhan by the decision of the head of the investigative group of the Department of the National Security Committee in Almaty dated November 18, 2022 his acts were qualified under Article 179, Part 2, Article 272, Part 1, Article 24, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Previously, Torekulov has been subjected to administrative liability for a period of 15 days for participating in the commemoration of Aron Atabek (40 days after his death).

Kaziev Yerkyn, a civic activist from the city of Kaskelen. Kaziev was charged under Article 380, Part 1 “Threat or use of violence against a representative of authority”, Article 405, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On February 22, 2022 Kaziev was put on the wanted list. On February 23, 2022, an examining magistrate of the Karasai District Court authorized a preventive measure in the form of detention in absentia. On October 27, 2022, Kaziev was detained and placed in custody. Previously, in 2019, Y. Kaziev was convicted under Article 405 of the Criminal Code of the RK to one year of restriction of liberty.
Aliaskarov Bauyrzhan, a native of Asku district of Almaty region. He was engaged in private transportation in the city of Almaty. On October 6, 2022 the senior prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Zhetisu region, head of the interdepartmental investigative team made a new decision to qualify the acts of B.Aliaskarov under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 272, Part 1 of Article 380 of the Criminal Code of the RK. On January 31, 2022 by a resolution of the deputy head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Almaty region, a member of the interdepartmental investigative group, the acts of Aliaskarov were qualified under Parts 2 and 3 of Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the RK. On April 19, 2022 a resolution of the senior prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor’s Office of the Almaty region prosecutor’s office qualified the acts of B. Aliaskarov under Part 1, 2, and 3 of Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the RK. Currently, the familiarization with the materials of the criminal case is in progress.
Makin Dauren, a well-known Kazakhstani artist, was taken into custody on suspicion of “propaganda of terrorism”. The case is being investigated by the National Security Committee of the RK. By a ruling of the senior investigator of the Nur-Sultan City Department of the National Security Committee, dated April 30, 2022, the acts of D. Makin were qualified under Article 256, Part 1, of the Criminal Code of the RK. On November 7, 2022, a new ruling was issued by a senior investigator of the Astana Department of the National Security Committee on the qualification of Makin’s acts under Article 256, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the present time, the pre-trial investigation is completed. Familiarization with the materials of the criminal case is in progress.
Expert Council: Galym Ageleuov, Lukpan Akhmedyarov, Zauresh Battalova, Gulmira Birzhanova, Anara Ibraeva, Yevgeniy Zhovtis, Yerlan Kaliev, BakhytzhanToregozhina.