Almaty Police Department Comments on QazNews24 Satirist's Arrest

Temirlan Yensebek has been placed in pre-trial detention for two months.

He faces charges under Article 174 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code for "inciting social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious discord."

The Almaty Police Department has commented on the situation:

"Regarding inquiries about the pre-trial investigation of the Instagram page's author, we want to emphasize the following: the case is not related to so-called satirical publications. The reason is different — he posted material containing clear signs of inciting ethnic discord, with elements of insulting representatives of an entire ethnic group.

This is unacceptable in our multinational country, where, according to the Constitution, no one can be subjected to any discrimination based on origin, nationality, language, religion, or any other circumstances (characteristics). Such actions undermine inter-ethnic harmony and people's unity. And this is one of the fundamental principles of our state,"  the Almaty Police Department's press service stated.

The police also commented on the pickets in support of Yensebek.

They characterized the pickets by Ruslan Biketov, Asem Zhapisheva, and Sergey Zinchenko as violations, citing them as "unauthorized pickets that breach established procedures for public assemblies." 

Such violations carry administrative penalties. Both Biketov and Zhapisheva have already received 15-day detention sentences.

The department added that investigators are working to identify the authors of a song Yensebek published on his satirical QazNews24 channel.

Yesterday, human rights defender Tatyana Chernobil, commenting on Yensebek's case, emphasized that authorities selectively apply the law.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin