MP Bapi Reports on Visit to Imprisoned Marathon Runner Marat Zhylanbayev

On October 17, MP Yermurat Bapi shared details of his visit to the Stepnogorsk prison colony, where marathon runner Marat Zhylanbayev, convicted in 2023 on extremism charges, is serving his sentence. The post came a day after human rights activists again raised concerns about violations of Zhylanbayev’s rights, Orda.kz reports.

The Visit

Bapi’s visit took place on October 12, though information about it remained unclear for several days. A short summary appeared on October 16 on the Azattyq website.

The day before, Zhylanbayev’s lawyer, Denis Malyuga, and human rights defenders had also met with him. That same day, the Telegram channel “Activists Are Not Extremists” published a post describing restrictions imposed by the prison administration.

According to the post, Zhylanbayev was denied the right to receive or send letters and was not allowed to run. It also described an incident involving utensils that the authors interpreted as a provocation. Prisoners were reportedly told to bring aluminum or plastic spoons from home.

Zhylanbayev questioned the policy:

After this, prison officer Duisenov gave him a drilled iron spoon. Other prisoners explained to Marat that such a spoon was used by the 'offended' (one of the lowest prison castes – Ed.). Marat bent the spoon and returned it to Duisenov, suggesting he use it himself,
the post says. 

At first glance, everything doesn’t seem so bad: his voice is clear, his face is bright, he speaks without hesitation,
 the deputy said, describing Zhylanbayev’s condition.

Hunger Strikes

Human rights groups had previously reported that Zhylanbayev’s health worsened during multiple hunger strikes. 

In the post, Bapi quoted the athlete explaining his actions:

I have no other way to express my protest than through hunger strikes. Therefore, I am forced to resort to this political action from time to time. I was convicted on two counts — extremism and terrorism. I reject both! Therefore, as a statement of protest, I occasionally go on hunger strikes.

The day after Bapi’s visit, Zhylanbayev reportedly began another hunger strike.

Bapi also cited complaints about a ban on running and the presence of mice in the facility. The administration attributed the rodents to the building’s age and explained the running ban as a matter of consistency:

If every prisoner were to demand to practice the sport they prefer — one would be athletics, another weightlifting, a third gymnastics, and so on — it would be impossible to fulfill all of this. The internal regime is the same for everyone.

When asked about the use of force, Zhylanbayev responded:

The administration itself claimed to act cautiously:

Working with convicted persons, whom human rights organizations call 'political prisoners,' is no easy task for the KUIS department either. We make sure not a hair is harmed. To avoid being accused tomorrow of some unexpected incident, we protect Zhylanbayev like a youngest son.

Parole

Bapi also discussed parole with Zhylanbayev, who responded:

Former political prisoner Vladimir Kozlov later commented that refusing parole can hinder advocacy efforts for release:

Political prisoners must know and remember that they are political prisoners, and that they weren't sent to prison camps for criminal offenses, and that the law hasn't been respected. And it will stand by in the same way when the issue of releasing a 'political prisoner' is being decided — the law will only invent grounds for release when it's told to. But refusing parole greatly complicates the process for those seeking this release, for those same EU politicians and others, because their demands for release are met with the response that the prisoner himself is refusing the opportunity provided by law, and these people can't demand an opportunity outside the law; it's beyond their control.

Kozlov himself was released from prison in 2016 on parole.

Background

Marat Zhylanbayev, a supermarathon runner and leader of the unregistered “Alga, Kazakhstan!” party, was arrested on May 28, 2023, and later convicted for participating in and financing extremist activity.

On November 29, he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin