Astana Lawyer Takes Ministry of Defense to Court Over Victory Parade Viewing Ban

An Astana-based lawyer has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Defense over restrictions placed on viewing this year’s Victory Parade, Orda.kz reports.

The parade, held on May 7 in Astana to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, was accessible to only a very limited audience. The security measures were so strict that a drone reportedly flew up to residents’ open windows and, using a loudspeaker, ordered them to close them.

These restrictions prompted local lawyer Daulet Almurat to take legal action.

I’m a lawyer, and yesterday I filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Defense because on May 7, 2025, I was not allowed to watch the parade from my own balcony. Let’s see what the court says,Almurat wrote on his threads page.  

His post quickly gained traction online, garnering around a thousand likes. However, legal experts pointed out that the Ministry of Defense might not be the right target for the lawsuit.

The Ministry of Defense isn’t the proper defendant in this case. The lawsuit should likely be filed against the State Security Service (SGO), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or the Astana Police Department. The Ministry of Defense only organizes the parade — these agencies are responsible for security measures,wrote lawyer Alibek Begdessenov in the comments. 

Meanwhile, Za Nami Yzhe Viyekhali reports that the case has been filed with the Specialized Interdistrict Administrative Court of Astana. The defendant is the Ministry of Defense. According to the plaintiff, he is still awaiting a response from representatives of the SGO, who may become co-defendants in his lawsuit.

The drone incident wasn’t the only controversy surrounding the event. Public backlash also erupted after Tendik Izakov, a neurosurgeon and home front veteran, was denied entry to the parade. The Akimat later issued a formal apology to him.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin