Open Dialogue Foundation
Kazakhstan · ODF
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryKazakhstan
Age / Sexmale
Occupation—
Arrested inpenal colony ZK-169/5
Held at—
CategoryActivism
StatusConvicted
Sentence12 years
Kazakhstan · context
184documented cases
59 urgent · 21 report torture
Most common grounds
Journalism
21
Cultural
1
Religious
2
Social Media
7
Reports of Torture or Ill-treatment.
Subjected to physical abuse or severe ill-treatment in detention. Violation of international law.
Case Summary
Yelshibayev, an activist from Zhanaozen, received two sentences: 5 years for bodily harm (victim had no claims) and 7 years for disobedience in prison after a suicide attempt. He claims he was protesting illegal actions and pressure from the colony administration. Reports indicate that they have been subjected to torture.
Native-Language SummaryRU • Original
Жанаозендік белсенді Елшібейевке екі үкім шығарылды: зардап шегушінің талап-арызы болмаса да дене жарақаты үшін 5 жыл және өзін-өзі өлтіру әрекетінен кейін түрмеде бұйрыққа бағынбағаны үшін 7 жыл. Ол түрме әкімшілігінің заңсыз әрекеттері мен қорлық-зомбылығына қарсылық көрсеткенін айтады. Есептерге сәйкес, олар азаптауға ұшыраған.
02Charges
Charges
02 count- 01Article 106 of the Criminal Code (infliction of bodily harm)
- 02Article 428 of the Criminal Code (disobedience to the lawful demands of the colony administration)
03Related
Related Cases
Module 01 · Solidarity Matcher
Cases like Yerzhan Yelshibayev’s that ended in release.
The closest historical cases in our archive whose subjects walked free — the playbooks that worked for someone in a comparable situation.
04Sources
Data Source
Source vs. TD analysis
ODFCase facts, charges, dates, and status.
TD analysisRisk, surveillance & sentence estimates — probabilistic, not the source's reporting.
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Cite this case
The Detained. (2026). Case file: Yerzhan Yelshibayev (TD case cmrppdc8, record version 2026-07-21). Retrieved July 21, 2026, from https://thedetained.org/prisoners/cmrppdc8e000wxi5el4d7uzqk. Original data from Open Dialogue Foundation (https://en.odfoundation.eu/a/727640,political-repressions-and-political-prisoners-in-kazakhstan/#yerzhan-yelshibayev).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.
