Additional Name(s): Ernar Samatovich Samatov
Gender: Male
Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty
Perpetrator: Kazakhstan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/27/2018
Date of Sentencing: August/5/2019
Date of Release: October/10/2025
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism
Ernar Samatov
Extra Bio Info:
Ernar Samatov was imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.
On October 27, 2018, Kazakh authorities arrested Samatov for participating in a WhatsApp group chat about Islam.
On August 5, 2019, the Almaly District Court in Almaty sentenced Samatov to seven years and six months' imprisonment for "incitement of social, national, patrimonial, racial, class or religious discord…by group of persons” (Art. 174-2 KCC) and "promotion of terrorism or public calls for making of the act of terrorism…with use of mass media or networks of telecommunications” (Art. 256-2 KCC). Authorities also fined him 48,100 tenges and froze his bank accounts.
On 10 October 2025, Samatov was released from prison.
Publicly Available Information:
- USCIRF Annual Report 2023: Kazakhstan
- USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Kazakhstan September 2022
- Opinion No. 33/2021 concerning Azamat Umbetaliyev, Beket Mynbasov, Samat Adilov, Zhuldyzbek Taurbekov, Zhasulan Iskakov, Nazim Abdrakhmanov, Ernar Samatov and Bolatbek Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan) UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
- "Kazakhstan: 24 prisoners of conscience - list" Forum 18
- "Kazakhstan: Eight jailed for up to eight years" Forum 18
Additional Name(s): Bolatbek Dyusenbekovich Nurgaliyev
Gender: Male
Current Location: Investigation Prison LA-155/18, Turksib, Almaty
Perpetrator: Kazakhstan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/27/2018
Date of Sentencing: August/5/2019
Date of Release: June/21/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression
Nature of Charges: Hate Speech Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism
Bolatbek Nurgaliyev
Extra Bio Info:
Bolatbek Dyusenbekovich Nurgaliyev was imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.
On October 27, 2018, authorities arrested Nurgaliyev for participating in a WhatsApp group chat about Islam.
On August 5, 2019, the Almaly District Court in Almaty sentenced to Nurgaliyev to eight years in prison for "incitement of social, national, patrimonial, racial, class or religious discord…by group of persons” (Art. 174-2 KCC) and "promotion of terrorism or public calls for making of the act of terrorism…with use of mass media or networks of telecommunications” (Art. 256-2 KCC). It also fined him 48,100 tenges and froze his bank accounts.
On November 20, 2019, Nurgaliyev's appeal was denied.
On June 21, 2023, Nurgaliyev was released from prison on probation.
Publicly Available Information:
-
"Kazakhstan: Bolatbek Nurgaliyev Released from Prison" Freedom Now
-
USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Kazakhstan September 2022
-
Opinion No. 33/2021 concerning Azamat Umbetaliyev, Beket Mynbasov, Samat Adilov, Zhuldyzbek Taurbekov, Zhasulan Iskakov, Nazim Abdrakhmanov, Ernar Samatov and Bolatbek Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan) UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: China
Religion or Belief: Falun Gong
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September//2018
Date of Sentencing: December//2019
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Distributing Religious Materials Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Li Yuanyou
Extra Bio Info:
Li Yuanyou was imprisoned for her religious activity.
In September 2018, authorities arrested Li for distributing Falun Gong-related materials.
In December 2019, Li was reportedly sentenced to three years in prison.
On an unspecified date, the Guiyang City Intermediate Court reportedly rejected Li's appeal.
Li's sentence should have ended in September 2021.