Sanzhar Bokayev trial to open September 28 in Almaty district court

September 15, 2026 at 04:55 PM2 min

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The first hearing in the criminal case against activist Sanzhar Bokayev is scheduled for September 28 at 09:30 in the Almaly District Court of Almaty. His lawyer Radmir Utepov said the trial will be open to the public. Bokayev has been in custody since March on charges including large-scale fraud, illegal tree felling, and spreading false information.

Key Facts

The first hearing in Sanzhar Bokayev's case is set for September 28, 2026, at 09:30 in the Almaly District Court of Almaty.
Lawyer Radmir Utepov said the trial will be open to the public.
Bokayev has been in custody since March 18, 2026.
Investigators accuse Bokayev of large-scale fraud, illegal tree felling, theft at construction sites, and spreading false information.
In February 2026, Bokayev posted a video from the United States saying he would not return to Kazakhstan, but he later came back and was detained in March.

Trial Schedule

The first hearing in Sanzhar Bokayev's criminal case will take place on September 28, 2026, at 09:30 in the Almaly District Court of Almaty. Lawyer Radmir Utepov announced the date on his Instagram page and said the trial will be open to the public. Bokayev has been in custody since March 18, 2026, and the investigation was completed in July, after which his lawyers began reviewing the case materials.

Charges Against Bokayev

Investigators suspect Bokayev of large-scale fraud, illegal tree felling, theft at construction sites, and spreading false information. According to the prosecution, Bokayev organized and financed the felling of trees in a public park zone and recruited low-income individuals for the task, promising them payment. The General Prosecutor's Office stated that Bokayev posted videos on social media about illegal tree felling and theft at construction sites to spread false information and create negative public opinion. Investigators also allege that Bokayev paid socially vulnerable citizens to commit thefts at construction sites and cut down trees, then published recordings of these acts on social media to generate public resonance.

Bokayev's Public Profile

Sanzhar Bokayev is known for videos about officials' work, budget spending, the recycling fee, and controversial construction in Almaty. In February 2026, he posted a video from the United States saying he had opened a business in America and would not return to Kazakhstan, but he later came back and was detained in March. In the 2000s, Bokayev worked in the civil service, including as head of the Almaty internal policy department, and later became a public activist. After the January events, Bokayev unsuccessfully tried to register a political party, and in 2023 he ran for the Majilis and challenged the election results as falsified.