Victim of Political Terror: Books on Altynbek Sarsenbayuly’s Legacy Presented in Almaty

February 11 marked 19 years since the tragic death of politician and public figure Altynbek Sarsenbayuly. In his memory, two books dedicated to his life and work — Uakytynda Aitylgan Shyndyk (The Truth Told in Time) and Alashtyn Altynbegi — were presented in Almaty, Orda.kz reports.

The event brought together prominent public and cultural figures, including writer Marat Baidildauly, poet Batyk Mazhituly, and journalist Rysbek Sarsenbayuly, the late politician’s brother.

Spoke Truth to Power

Writer Marat Baidildauly, who personally knew Sarsenbayuly, emphasized his fearless commitment to the truth — even when it meant confronting Nursultan Nazarbayev directly.

The truth, spoken too late, loses its power. Altynbek Sarsenbayuly often said this. He was among the first to publicly expose Rakhat Aliyev and Dariga Nazarbayeva’s ambitions to seize full control of the country. If they had succeeded, Kazakhstan would have faced a coup-like scenario. Sarsenbayuly provided evidence of Aliyev’s involvement in these processes — at a time when Aliyev, as head of the National Security Committee, was becoming the country's second most powerful figure,  Baidildauly said.

Poet Batyk Mazhituly compared Sarsenbayuly to the Kazakh independence fighter Makhambet, highlighting the philosophical depth of his thoughts:

The interviews compiled in the book are more than just conversations—they are profound philosophical reflections. Altynbek represented the transition from Soviet rule to independence. He became the youngest minister in Kazakhstan’s history. But while anyone can be a minister, not everyone can be a true statesman.

A Bullet Aimed at the People

Activists at the presentation stressed that Sarsenbayuly was never a bureaucrat who blindly followed orders — he was a politician guided by principle. His brother, Rysbek Sarsenbayuly, reflected on his relentless pursuit of knowledge and justice.

The bullet that struck Altynbek was aimed at the people. This is what the intelligentsia said at his funeral. If Altynbek had been alive, the tragedy in Janaozen would not have happened. The workers would not have been shot. In western Kazakhstan, I’ve met people who still mourn him, saying with tears in their eyes, ‘If only Altynbek were here.’ The people still search for him because every word he spoke was the truth. Rysbek Sarsenbayuly said.

19 years ago, the leader of the Kazakh opposition, Altynbek Sarsenbayuly, was killed.

On February 13, 2006, the bodies of Altynbek Sarsenbayuly and his two aides were found in the Talgar district of the Almaty region. All three had been shot. Officially, former Senate official Yerzhan Utembayev and ex-National Security Committee officers were convicted of the murder.

However, many questions remain.

Was Rakhat Aliyev eliminating future rivals, or was he following orders from Nazarbayev? 

 Original Author: Aisha Aldayar