Karaganda court sentences falconer to 18 months for keeping 35 rare birds

August 28, 2026 at 05:18 PM2 min

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A court in Karaganda sentenced a member of Kazakhstan's national hunting team to 18 months of restricted freedom for illegally acquiring and keeping 35 rare birds of prey. The man, identified as Ospankulov, was also banned for one year from activities involving endangered species. The court released him from the main sentence under a constitutional amnesty.

Key Facts

The court found that from 2017 to February 5, 2026, Ospankulov illegally acquired 35 birds of prey without permits.
The seized birds included 31 saker falcons, 1 peregrine falcon, 2 golden eagles, and 1 northern goshawk.
Ospankulov fully admitted guilt and expressed remorse; the court cited his four dependent minor children as a mitigating factor.
The court sentenced him to 1 year 6 months of restricted freedom and a 1-year ban on activities involving endangered species.
The court released Ospankulov from the main sentence under the Law of Kazakhstan 'On Amnesty in connection with the adoption of the new Constitution'.

The Illegal Collection

The Kazybekbi District Court in Karaganda established that Ospankulov created an Instagram page, tanat.falcons, in 2017 to promote national hunting with birds of prey. From 2017 until February 5, 2026, unidentified persons delivered 35 birds of prey to Ospankulov at his property on Turekulova Street 117 in Karaganda. A police search on February 5, 2026, found all 35 birds at the address, and Ospankulov had no permits for their acquisition or keeping. An expert examination identified the birds as 31 saker falcons, 1 peregrine falcon, 2 golden eagles, and 1 northern goshawk. All these species are listed as rare or endangered, and trade in some is regulated by Kazakhstan's international treaties.

The Verdict

Ospankulov fully admitted guilt and expressed remorse during the court hearing. The court recognized his sincere repentance, full admission of guilt, and four dependent minor children as mitigating circumstances, with no aggravating factors found. The court sentenced Ospankulov to 1 year 6 months of restricted freedom and banned him for 1 year from activities involving rare and endangered species. The prosecutor had requested 1 year of restricted freedom and a 3-year ban on activities involving rare animals. The court applied the Law of Kazakhstan 'On Amnesty in connection with the adoption of the new Constitution' and released Ospankulov from the main sentence.