East Kazakhstan Akim Responds After Activist Denied Timely Permission for Protest Against Time Change

East Kazakhstan Region Akim Nurymbet Saktaganov commented on the situation involving residents who were denied permission to hold a peaceful rally against the time change, Orda.kz reports.

Resident Leonid Kartashov filed a notice for the rally last year, but the Akimat rejected it. He eventually secured approval through the courts — yet only for November 2025, by which time the government had already made its decision on the issue.

First of all, we have no objections. When reviewing the notice, we took into account a number of organizational issues. The location where he planned to hold the rally had to be vacant. He was granted permission, but then he rescinded it of his own free will,
 the akim said.

He can appeal to the prosecutor’s office or to the court if he believes that his rights have been violated,
 the regional head replied.

On the evening of November 5, several dozen residents gathered near the House of Friendship in Oskemen to find out whether the rally calling for East Kazakhstan to return to its previous time zone would take place.

The organizer, Leonid Kartashev, had been seeking permission since fall 2024. A year later, authorities finally approved it — scheduled for November 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Nazarbayev Avenue.

Kartashev posted a photo of the permit on social media.

However, he disagreed with the proposed terms and submitted a refusal, insisting that the date and time be determined jointly with residents.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov