Life After Sentencing: How Is Temirlan Yensebek Coping?

The Instagram account of Qaznews24, a popular satirical page in Kazakhstan, has once again been blocked, Orda.kz reports.

Its founder, Temirlan Yensebek, is listed among those accused of financing extremism. His fiancée, Maria Kochneva, told Orda.kz about the ongoing restrictions and how Yensebek is coping.

Unavailable

Currently, the main Qaznews24 page is unavailable — only a backup remains. According to Kochneva, this isn’t the first time, and such incidents tend to coincide with politically sensitive events.

The main page is constantly blocked for alleged copyright infringement: for using official photographs of Aqorda and ministries, although they are publicly available and used by other media. The authorities always try to block before 'big' events. For example, this time – on the day when it was announced that Rosatom would build a nuclear power plant,
 Kochneva said.

The Qaznews24 team continues to work with human rights organizations that are in contact with Meta. Past blocks have been successfully lifted.

Blacklisted

Yensebek was sentenced to five years of restricted freedom under Article 174 of the Criminal Code for inciting ethnic discord — a verdict based on a social media post that included a critical comment about Russian media figure Tina Kandelaki and the controversial song "Yo, Orystar." 

He left Qaznews24 after the trial and appealed the sentence, but the court upheld the decision.

More recently, Yensebek’s name appeared on a financial monitoring blacklist — a registry of individuals suspected of funding extremism or terrorism:

On that day, his IIN and all bank accounts were blocked. Now he has a complete economic, professional and notarial block. He is not allowed to register property in his own name or in the name of others,
Kochneva explained.

There was no official notification or explanation for this status, only the change in internal databases:

Tima will now work in the family business for his parents. He really hopes that his family will not be bothered since no one else will hire someone with his status. We are facing difficulties, but we are trying to overcome everything,
she added. 

According to Kochneva, Yensebek remains under close watch, especially during visits by foreign leaders. During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent trip to Kazakhstan, local police were supposedly outside his home.

On the same day, Xi Jinping came to Kazakhstan, and he (Yensebek – Ed.) was being 'tended to' in the yard by police officers – district police officers. The same thing happened in December, when Putin came, we were blocked in at home and not allowed out until Putin flew back home at eight in the evening. This is our 'special' treatment from the state,
she said.

The case has attracted international media attention. French magazine Charlie Hebdo recently covered Yensebek’s situation in an article titled “In Kazakhstan, a satirical blogger was muzzled to calm the Russian ogre.” An official responded, saying there is no censorship.

Despite everything, Qaznews24 staff hope the main account will be restored.

Orda.kz will keep following developments.

Original Author: Alina Pak