The Fight for Freedom of Speech in Kazakhstan: Repressions Against Activists and the Arrests of Temirlan Ensebek’s Supporters

February 2025 has once again demonstrated how the Kazakh authorities continue to suppress freedom of speech and persecute activists fighting for human rights. One of the clearest examples of this is the arrest of Temirlan Ensebek, a well-known satirist and author of the Qaznews24 page, followed by repressions against those who stood in his defense.

An Attack on Satire as a Means of Intimidation

In January 2025, blogger Temirlan Ensebek was arrested in Almaty. He was charged with inciting ethnic hatred—an accusation frequently used by the Kazakh government to silence dissent. However, in reality, Ensebek was simply publishing satirical content, criticizing government actions and addressing pressing social issues.

His arrest sparked outrage among activists, journalists, and civil society. Many saw this not just as an attempt to silence one blogger but as a direct attack on freedom of expression in Kazakhstan. International organizations, including Amnesty International, called for his immediate release, stating that the criminal prosecution of a satirist was a clear violation of human rights.

Solidarity Actions and New Repressions

In response to Ensebek’s arrest, activists began staging solo pickets. Holding signs that read “Satire is not a crime,” they protested against the blogger’s detention and demanded an end to political repression. However, instead of dialogue, the authorities responded with harsh crackdowns.

Among those detained were:

• Ruslan Biketov, a journalist sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest for participating in a picket.

• Asem Zhapysheva, an activist and journalist, who was also arrested for 15 days.

• Akmaryl Dzhakibayeva, a member of the Oyan, Qazaqstan movement, was fined approximately $370 for participating in the protest.

The Almaty police claimed that the protesters violated the law on public gatherings, even though all actions took place as solo pickets, which do not require prior government approval.

Why Is This Important?

The persecution of activists and bloggers in Kazakhstan is not new. However, the case of Temirlan Ensebek represents a new stage in the repression of free speech. If in the past the government primarily targeted political activists and human rights defenders, now even satirists are at risk. This suggests that any form of criticism, even through humor, is perceived as a threat by the authoritarian regime.

The repression of activists also highlights the government’s fear of even small protests. The arrests of solo picketers confirm that the state seeks to suppress any dissent before it can gain momentum.

What’s Next?

As of now, Temirlan Ensebek remains in custody, and his case has been transferred to court. The trial will be a crucial indicator of how far the authorities are willing to go in their crackdown on independent voices.

Meanwhile, the international community continues to monitor the situation in Kazakhstan. European and American human rights organizations have already expressed concern over the developments. It is possible that pressure from the West could influence the fate of the arrested activists.

However, the most crucial factor is the response within the country. The more people realize that the fight for freedom of speech affects everyone, the harder it will be for the authorities to maintain their repressive system. Today, a satirist is on trial, but tomorrow, it could be anyone who simply expresses their opinion.

Repression against activists in Kazakhstan continues, but their struggle for justice and freedom of speech does not stop. And every new voice in defense of those persecuted makes this fight stronger.