Kazakhstan
Қазақстандағы саяси тұтқындар
167 documented cases
Kazakhstan's political-prisoner population grew sharply after the January 2022 ('Qantar') unrest, when protests sparked by fuel-price increases were met with security-force violence and mass detentions. Activists, independent journalists, labor organizers, and members of unregistered opposition movements continue to face prosecution under broadly drawn extremism, terrorism, and 'inciting social discord' statutes.
Coverage of Kazakhstan in this database is currently aggregated from the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Coalition Against Torture in Kazakhstan, with English translation and standardized case classification by Political Prisoner Watch.
Primary sources: Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights
He was sentenced to 5 years for alleged involvement in mass riots during the January 2022 protests. His relatives claim he was slandered and did not accept the charges.
Convicted in connection with the seizure of Almaty airport during the January protests. He is labeled by authorities as a bandit/terrorist, though he is considered a civil activist.
A 64-year-old man accused of organising mass riots during the protests in Taraz. He maintains he only went to the square to calm the youth and has not pleaded guilty.
He was accused of using a lorry to kill a serviceman and is linked to the DCK movement. He was subjected to severe torture, including being beaten with truncheons and stun guns, to force a confession. Reports indicate that they have been subjected to torture.
116 of 167 cases are not yet plotted on the map, typically because the public source did not record a precise location.
Figures reflect documented cases in this database · a lower bound, not an official total
