Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
On May 3, 2023, human rights activist and leader of the opposition party, “Alga Kazakhstan,” Marat Zhylanbaev, was arrested on administrative charges for participating in an “illegal” protest. Upon completing his administrative detention on May 23, he was immediately re-arrested on criminal charges for alleged participation in and financing so-called “extremist” activities. Following a closed trial, Mr. Zhylanbaev was convicted of all charges on November 29, 2023, and sentenced to seven years in prison followed by a three-year ban on the right to engage in social and political activities. The regime targeted him for his political activism, particularly his calls for an investigation into the events of “Bloody January,” a protest that resulted in the deaths of 240 civilians. HRF filed a submission to the UN Special Procedures on behalf of Mr. Zhylanbaev, seeking his immediate release.
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On May 3, 2023, human rights activist and leader of the opposition party, “Alga Kazakhstan,” Marat Zhylanbaev, was arrested on administrative charges for participating in an “illegal” protest. Upon completing his administrative detention on May 23, he was immediately re-arrested on criminal charges for alleged participation in and financing so-called “extremist” activities. Following a closed trial, Mr. Zhylanbaev was convicted of all charges on November 29, 2023, and sentenced to seven years in prison followed by a three-year ban on the right to engage in social and political activities. The regime targeted him for his political activism, particularly his calls for an investigation into the events of “Bloody January,” a protest that resulted in the deaths of 240 civilians. HRF filed a submission to the UN Special Procedures on behalf of Mr. Zhylanbaev, seeking his immediate release.
Learn more about our work at the Human Rights Foundation:
Website: hrf.org
X (formerly Twitter): https://X.com/HRF
Instagram: instagram.com/hrf
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hrf
Subscribe to HRF’s Substack: humanrightsfoundation.substack.com
Join us in promoting freedom where it’s most at risk!
Donate today: hrf.org/?form=donate
