Criminal Case Opened Against Orazaly Yerzhanov for Alleged Election Interference

A criminal case has been initiated against public figure Orazaly Yerzhanov. The charges are related to allegedly obstructing the exercise of electoral rights.

According to official information, social media posts containing unreliable information and calls to boycott a referendum were identified. These publications, which reportedly misled people, were linked to communication numbers registered abroad.

An investigation is currently underway, with police examining the activist's online publications. The law does not prohibit expressing one's opinion; however, liability arises for the deliberate dissemination of false information, distortion of facts, misleading the public, or obstructing the work of an election commission.

Reports of Yerzhanov's detention emerged in the morning. Journalist Gulzhan Yergaliyeva stated that he was arrested for a 10-day period.

Yerzhanov heads the public foundation Elge Qaitaru and has previously criticized the draft of the new Constitution. He has raised questions about the legitimacy of the working group and Kurultai's composition, as well as why discussions on the current project are not as broad as they were in 1993.

Just a day earlier, a deputy minister of internal affairs stated he had no information about citizens being prosecuted for criticizing the new Constitution.