Reacting to the conviction and sentences of 19 activists in Kazakhstan for participating in a peaceful protest against human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:
“The Kazakhstani authorities must immediately release the 19 activists as they are imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their human rights. Authorities must quash their convictions and sentences. Criminalizing peaceful protest under the vague pretext of ‘inciting discord’ is a travesty of justice and an affront to international human rights standards.
Criminalizing peaceful protest under the vague pretext of ‘inciting discord’ is a travesty of justice and an affront to international human rights standards
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central AsiaKazakhstan: Sentencing of 19 activists over peaceful Xinjiang protest a travesty of justice
“Amnesty International has received information indicating that several of those convicted and sentenced have serious health conditions. We call on the authorities to provide immediate access to appropriate medical care while they remain in detention.”
“Authorities should ensure and uphold the human rights of everyone in the country including the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.”
Background
On 13 April 2026, a court in Taldykorgan convicted 19 activists linked to the Atajurt movement over a peaceful protest held in November 2025 near the city of Almaty. Eleven activists were handed five-year prison sentences on charges of “inciting interethnic or social discord” (Article 174 of the Criminal Code), including two women defendants given suspended prison sentences due to having young children. Eight others were given non-custodial “restrictions of freedom” sentences. All defendants were additionally banned from public or political activities for three years.
During the demonstration the participants, ethnic Kazakhs from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), criticized human rights violations by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang and called for the release of Kazakhstani citizen Alimnur Turganbay, detained in China since July 2025. Protesters burned Chinese flags and a portrait of China’s President Xi Jinping. Following a diplomatic complaint from the Chinese consulate, Kazakhstani authorities escalated initial administrative charges to criminal prosecution.
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