Documented cases

7 people held for political reasons in Russia, Belarus, Georgia and Central Asia. Search by name, or filter by country, charge, arrest date and sentence.

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Urgency

Azamat Omarov

Azamat Omarov, a journalist and creator of the satirical YouTube channel 'Akhual Today', was arrested on 18 July 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan, following a search of his home. He was charged under Article 174 of the Kazakhstan Criminal Code for inciting social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious hatred, based on satirical content and criticism of the government. He was sentenced to 3.5 years of restriction of freedom, with a five-year ban on public and journalistic activities. He was released on 14 September 2026.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 15, 2026

Botagoz Omarova

Journalist Botagoz Omarova, author of the 'Aitpa, Botagoz' Telegram channel, has had her detention extended by one month. She is being investigated for allegedly spreading false information related to a construction company and the Presidential Administration. She spent several months under house arrest, imposed on 21 March 2026. After she published a retraction in May 2026, the criminal case against her was closed.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · OCT 15, 2026

Elvira Bekzadina

Elvira Bekzadina, an activist for the unregistered party 'Alga Kazakhstan', was arrested on 16 December 2025 in Astana while attempting to commemorate the 1986 uprising. During the arrest, police reportedly used force against her and her two minor daughters, and she later alleged she was beaten by officers in a location without surveillance. On 1 June 2026, she was sentenced to two years in prison for insulting a representative of authority and using violence against a representative of authority, though the sentence was suspended for one year due to her status as a mother of minors.

TORTURE REPORTED

LAST UPDATED · OCT 18, 2026

Lazat (Lyazzat) Anafina

Lazat Anafina is a civil society activist in Kazakhstan. In 2022, she was charged under the Administrative Code for campaigning for the Alğa, Qazaqstan! party. In 2023, she was sentenced to two years of restriction of liberty for disobedience to a public official and threatening a public official. In November 2024, her remaining term was replaced with imprisonment.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 2, 2026

Rasul Zhumaniyazov

Rasul Zhumaniyazov, a Karakalpak activist, was detained in Astana, Kazakhstan, on March 26, 2024, following an extradition request from Uzbekistan. The request was part of a broader campaign targeting Karakalpak activists following the suppression of mass protests in Karakalpakstan in July 2022. Uzbek authorities accused him of involvement in activities threatening public order and the constitutional system. After nearly a year in custody, Zhumaniyazov was released on March 25, 2025, due to the expiration of the maximum permissible term for extradition detention. Despite being released, he faced continued risk as Kazakhstan denied his asylum application. However, as of February 2026, it was reported that he has successfully departed Kazakhstan for a third safe country following international advocacy.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 18, 2026

Ermek Narymbaev

Activist Ermek Narymbaev is currently on trial in Astana for allegedly failing to comply with a court ban on engaging in socio-political activities. The trial has faced criticism due to the exclusion of journalists from the courtroom.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 10, 2026

Nurzhan Altayev

Nurzhan Altayev, leader of the unregistered opposition party El Tiregi, was detained by Kazakhstan's Anti-Corruption Service on suspicion of accepting a bribe on a particularly large scale and remanded in custody. The trial was held behind closed doors. On 21 November 2023 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Before his arrest he had repeatedly been held administratively liable for organising peaceful protests. His party's activists applied to the Department of Justice for registration 28 times and were refused each time.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 9, 2026

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