Judge bars media from filming, recording in Kazakh activist's trial
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Judge Azamat Abdraimov of Almaty's Bostandyk District Court No. 2 banned journalists from filming and audio-recording his participation in the criminal trial of environmental activist Olzhas Duisenov. The court also prohibited media from covering testimony of the victim, Dastan Yerzhanov, and his lawyer Sanzhar Burlibayev. Defense lawyer Zhanna Urazbakhova argued that court openness cannot be restricted under the law.
Court Restrictions
Judge Azamat Abdraimov banned journalists from filming and audio-recording his participation in the trial of environmental activist Olzhas Duisenov. The court also prohibited media from covering testimony of the victim, Dastan Yerzhanov, and his lawyer Sanzhar Burlibayev. Defense lawyer Zhanna Urazbakhova noted that under Article 29 of the Criminal Procedure Code, court openness can be limited only in cases involving state secrets or violence to protect victims. 'We are not considering a violent crime,' she said.
Case Background
Duisenov was arrested in February 2025 on charges of raiding the company KazEcoSolutions, which holds a patent for biological soil and water cleanup from oil pollution. He is also accused of embezzling a World Bank grant for commercializing the technology, misappropriating property, forging documents, and drug possession. Duisenov denies all charges. The victim is co-owner Dastan Yerzhanov, who currently holds a 70% stake in the company.
Procedural History
The case was previously heard in the same court and then in a specialized inter-district criminal court with jurors. In April 2026, the court returned the case to the prosecutor's office because the indictment did not define the limits of the charges. The case was refiled in July 2026 with a new indictment. During a preliminary hearing, defense lawyers requested a change of Duisenov's detention measure, as he has been in custody for 16 months, but the court denied the request.
What's Next
The trial is set to continue in Bostandyk District Court No. 2. It remains unclear whether the judge's restrictions on media coverage will be challenged or whether the defense will appeal the detention decision.
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Judge bars media from filming, recording in Kazakh activist's trial
