Ulytau Region Akim Sues Woman for 495,000 Tenge Over TikTok Video

An activist from the Ulytau region, Assel Aitmagambetova, drew the ire of the regional authorities after she began posting videos about local social issues. An administrative case was opened against her for criticizing the local authorities, and the court ordered a large fine.

An Orda.kz journalist looked into what happened.

On May 21, 2025, Aitmagambetova moved from Qostanay to Jezkazgan:

The city feels stuck in the 19th century. The water is muddy and doesn’t pass through the filters. People are getting sick. There’s not a single oncologist here. No roads either. Everything’s crumbling — as if after a war. I was fined for showing the truth about Jezkazgan, which is officially considered one of the richest cities in Kazakhstan. Unemployment, bribes for jobs — it’s all here, Assel said.

She began openly speaking out and posting videos on TikTok, showing the everyday struggles of residents.

In one of the videos, she showed the condition of the regional multidisciplinary hospital in Jezkazgan.

The laundry room is unsanitary. Everything’s old. There’s no heating — they had to use a space heater, she said in the video.

In response to one of her videos, the official account of "Ulytau Densaulyq" commented that a major renovation of the hospital was already planned.

The Akimat and Maslikhat of the Ulytau region had allocated funding for the work, which would cover not just the main building, but also the laundry room, histology lab, morgue, and kitchen block.

The tender has already been held, and a contractor selected. Work will begin on June 1, 2025.

The same plans were reported on their Instagram profile.

According to Assel, her criticism was primarily directed at Ulytau region Akim Dastan Ryspek.

On June 18, an investigator from the regional police department called her in for an “explanatory conversation.”

Assel refused to go, saying she had not received an official summons.

Just one day later, on June 19, Akim Dastan Ryspek filed a complaint against her, and an administrative case was opened. Nine of her TikTok videos were submitted for examination.

The first hearing was held on July 1, and just four days later, a verdict was issued. According to Assel, Ryspek did not attend the hearing in person, and the trial was held one-sidedly.

She claims the fine was imposed unlawfully:

I criticized him as a public servant. But he couldn’t take it—he didn’t face me, just filed a complaint. They held the trial and punished me in four days, she said.

In response to Orda.kz’s official inquiry, the Jezkazgan Court confirmed the verdict in Aitmagambetova’s case:

A psychological and philological examination revealed signs of an administrative offense. Her culpibality was proven. The court ruled to fine her 495,432 tenge for spreading false information on TikTok,the court’s press service stated. 

Orda.kz also submitted official requests to both the Ulytau Police Department and the Akimat, but has not yet received a response.

Original Author: Aisha Aldayar