Temirlan Yensebek's Lawyer Files Appeal

Lawyer Zhanara Balgabayeva, representing Temirlan Yensebek, has filed an appeal, which is now set to be reviewed by the Almaty City Court, Orda.kz reports.

On April 11, the creator of the satirical Instagram page Qaznews24 was sentenced to five years of restricted freedom.

The Nauryzbay District Court found Yensebek guilty under Article 174 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code (“Incitement of Ethnic Discord”) over a post about Tina Kandelaki that included the controversial song “Yo, Orystar.” 

The court also banned him from engaging in journalism, political, or human rights activities, as well as participating in assemblies, conferences, or any other public events.

Yensebek must also complete 100 hours of mandatory public service work annually. His laptop and phone, used as evidence, were confiscated and transferred to the state.

He is currently prohibited from giving interviews, using social media, receiving grants, attending live or online events, or participating in entertainment events — among other restrictions.

Lawyer Zhanara Balgabayeva confirmed she filed the appeal via the eOtinish platform:

I filed a brief complaint, we are preparing additions to the appeal — there are a lot of arguments. And since there are now major changes in 'The Court Offices' ( name of online platform - Ed.) and it does not work well, I filed through eOtinish. We met the deadline.

Balgabayeva also explained that the restrictions outlined in the verdict will only come into effect after the appeal is heard:

The sentence has not yet entered into legal force, but there was a clause about obligations of proper behavior. If, for example, he starts writing actively now, then this can be interpreted as committing a violation. Therefore, one must be careful. This is precisely the purpose for which everything was done. By and large, until the sentence has entered into legal force, he has the right to give comments, this does not apply to him.

Original Author: Alina Pak