Kazakhstan Convicts 17 for Terrorist and Extremist Crimes Since Start of Year

Since the beginning of 2026, 17 people have been convicted of terrorist and extremist crimes in criminal cases investigated by the National Security Committee in Kazakhstan. Among the convicts are participants in hostilities abroad, Orda.kz reports.

For example, the security forces told of a resident of Almaty who went abroad in 2017 and participated in hostilities on the side of international terrorist organizations. In 2025, he was arrested abroad along with foreign partners and taken to Kazakhstan. The court sentenced him to eight years in prison.

Another defendant is a resident of Kokshetau. According to the KNB, he went abroad in 2013 and later promoted terrorism and religious extremism on the Internet. He was detained during a joint operation with a foreign special service and taken to Kazakhstan.

Also in Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Akmola region and Ulytau region, security forces detained six people suspected of terrorist crimes. In addition, four more convicts in prisons were charged with promoting terrorism and inciting religious hatred.

Now the KNB is conducting other investigations under Articles 174 and 256 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Other details are not disclosed.

Original author: Alexander Zhdanov

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