Criminal Case Opened against Lawyer Zhanna Urazbakhova

Yesterday, reports surfaced that a criminal case had been opened against the lawyer and her colleague for disclosing pre-trial investigation data, Orda.kz reports, citing the Almaty Police Department press service.

Despite the established ban provided for by criminal procedure legislation, the said individuals disseminated information about the progress of the investigation through the media and social networks, the official police statement says.

There are also cases of “deliberate disruption of investigative actions and ignoring the mandatory participation in procedural activities by lawyers.”

 Zhanna Urazbakhova responded to the statement.

The criminal case against me initiated by the Almaty Kalasynyn Police Department is unlawful, for the simple reason that I have not seen the materials of the criminal case, I am not familiar with them, how can I disclose them? The investigation is still ongoing. And most importantly, I did not give any written acknowledgement about non-disclosure of the secret of the pre-trial investigation, and without this acknowledgement, no one can suspect me of anything. We are already preparing a complaint to with the Prosecutor's Office about the illegal registration of the criminal case. I will keep you informed, the lawyer wrote on her Instagram.

Zhanna Urazbakhova is a member of the Almaty City Bar Association and defended the interests of the affected party in the high-profile Bisimbayev Trial.

In 2024, the lawyer was included in the Forbes Woman Kazakhstan rating of “25 most influential women in Kazakhstan.”

In November, Urazbakhova received the state medal “Yeren Yenbegi Ushin.”

Original Author: Raushan Korzhumbekova