Kazakhstan - January 2025

Police raided the Almaty home of humorist Temirlan Yensebek on 17 January, apparently as part of an investigation into a song published on his satirical Instagram channel, QazNews24, in April 2024. Yensebek is charged with inciting ethnic hatred and faces up to seven years in jail, and observers and rights activists suggest the spurious nature of the charges indicates the government is primarily interested in dissuading critical speech – Yensebek frequently makes light of the country’s political leaders. The song in question mocked a Russian TV presenter who made unfounded and widely ridiculed claims that Kazakhstan was oppressing Russian-speaking Kazakhs. Public support for Yensebek has also been strictly punished, with several activists holding separate, legal one-person protests arrested and sentenced to weeks of detention or fines. Yensebek is currently serving two months of pre-trial detention.

Update: Yensebek was sentenced to five years of ‘restricted freedom’ on 11 April, meaning he cannot work as a journalist, give interviews, or otherwise take part in public life. His phone and laptop were confiscated as well. Due to the ban on speaking to the media, it is unclear if Yensebek plans to appeal.

Sources: Eurasianet, Factcheck.kz, Havli, Zakon.kz, Committee to Protect Journalists