Trial of QazNews24 Satirist Temirlan Yensebek Postponed in Almaty Court

The trial of Temirlan Yensebek, creator of the satirical Instagram account Qaznews24, has been rescheduled at the Almaly District Court of Almaty, Orda reports.

Initially set for February 14 and planned as a closed session, the court later decided to make it an open online hearing.

The prosecution requested a postponement, with the new date set "on February 21 at 10:00".

Supporters and activists gathered at the courthouse to show solidarity with Yensebek.

Yensebek was arrested on January 17 and placed in pretrial detention for two months. 

He faces charges under Article 174 of Kazakhstan's Criminal Code for allegedly inciting interethnic discord.

The charges could stem from a post about Tina Kandelaki that included the controversial song "Yo, Orystar. ( Yo, Russians - Ed.)"

While in detention, Yensebek penned a letter explaining the significance of his work.

His lawyer, Zhanara Balgabayeva, has raised concerns about the unusually rapid pace of the investigation and questioned the nature of the charges. She believes the case is politically motivated, stating:

I assume that there is a specific order, and no one needs a lot of fuss around the political case of my client, so everything is being carried out in an accelerated manner. The less time, the less noise. I can't explain the rush in any other way.

The case has drawn significant attention from the public and human rights organizations, who view it as a crucial test for freedom of speech in Kazakhstan.

The court is expected to hear arguments from both prosecution and defense teams in the coming days.

Original Author: Alina Pak