Authorities convict 14 for inciting ethnic hatred and separatism in northern Kazakhstan

In 2024, 14 people in the North Kazakhstan region were convicted of inciting interethnic discord and separatism, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

This year, regional courts handled 10 criminal cases involving 14 individuals. In one instance, two people in Petropavlovsk were sentenced to prison in November for separatism.

«They denied using the YouTube platform ‘Chat Ruletka’ to promote violation of the integrity of the Republic of Kazakhstan, inviolability and inalienability of its territory. However, irrefutable evidence was found in materials published on Instagram and TikTok,» the law enforcement agency said in a statement.

The Prosecutor General’s Office emphasized that under Article 180 (Separatist Activities) of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code, imprisonment is the only punishment for such offenses.

«The convicted individuals will serve their sentences in a medium-security penal institution,» the agency summarized.

Previously, the North Kazakhstan regional prosecutor’s office urged citizens to refrain from acts threatening Kazakhstan’s territorial integrity. Additionally, the agency reported that it is investigating five ongoing criminal cases related to separatism.