Documented cases

Ilyas Aitzhanov

Ilyas Aitzhanov, an activist from the Kostanay region, was arrested on 29 July 2026 for social media posts criticizing the Russian leadership and the government of Kazakhstan. He was charged under Article 174 and Article 313 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan for inciting social and ethnic discord and disseminating materials promoting the cult of violence. On 22 September 2026, he was sentenced to two years and six months in a medium-security prison after entering a plea agreement. The case was heard in a simplified procedure as the defendant admitted guilt to seek a minimum sentence.