Former Orda.kz Editor-in-Chief Gulnar Bazhkenova Sentenced to Eight Years

The Bostandyq District Court in Almaty sentenced former Orda.kz editor-in-chief Gulnar Bazhkenova to eight years in prison on August 18. The sentence was deferred for two years, Orda.kz reports.

Bazhkenova was found guilty of illegal business activity, knowingly disseminating false information and embezzling entrusted property under Articles 214, 274 and 189 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code.

Prosecutor Kuanysh Kanapyanov had requested an eight-year sentence, a two-year deferment and a five-year ban on journalistic, public and managerial activities.

Judge Elena Kwan imposed an eight-year term in a medium-security prison and barred Bazhkenova from journalistic and public activities for five years. The period beginning February 1, 2026, will count toward her sentence.

Bazhkenova pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Sentence Deferred for Two Years

The deferment means Bazhkenova will not be sent to prison immediately. She must register with the probation service within 10 days.

The court may revoke the deferment if she fails to fulfil her childcare responsibilities or violates public order after receiving two formal warnings.

Under Article 73-1 of the Criminal Code, if Bazhkenova receives no disciplinary penalties for one year, a court may conditionally reduce the remaining term by one month.

Civil Claims

The court partially granted claims against Bazhkenova, ordering her to pay:

• 88.1 million tenge to OrdaMedia.kz for material damages;
• 7.8 million tenge to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy;
• 800,000 tenge to Gulmira Tolganbayeva for legal expenses;
• six million tenge to Avangard LLP for legal and procedural costs.

Claims filed by Syzdykov, Omarkhanov and Exad LLP were left without consideration.

Before the verdict, Bazhkenova asked the court to apply the amnesty adopted this year following the introduction of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution. The judge rejected the request because the offenses for which she was convicted are not covered by the amnesty.

The trial began on July 2. Bazhkenova had been under house arrest since December 1, 2025. After her lawyer Murat Adam lost his license, the court appointed a public defender.

Read also:

• Court Places Orda Editor-in-Chief Gulnar Bazhkenova Under House Arrest
• Lawyer: House Arrest Prevents Orda.kz Head Bazhkenova from Defending Herself in Court
• Kazakhstan’s Union of Journalists Appeals to the Prosecutor General and Supreme Court amid Case of Gulnar Bazhkenova