Lawyer for jailed journalist Mukhamedkarim appeals to Kazakh authorities

September 22, 2026 at 06:13 PM2 min

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Lawyer Galym Nurpeisov has appealed to Kazakhstan's presidential administration and prosecutor general over the treatment of jailed journalist Duman Mukhamedkarim. The defense seeks his transfer closer to Almaty and proper medical care, citing deteriorating health and repeated hunger strikes.

Key Facts

Duman Mukhamedkarim has been in custody since June 2023 and is serving his sentence at Institution No. 60 in Kyzylorda Region.
In August 2024, a court in Konaev sentenced Mukhamedkarim to seven years in prison and a three-year ban on public-political activity.
The criminal case stemmed from an interview Mukhamedkarim conducted with exiled opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov.
In December 2024, Mukhamedkarim was transferred from Taldykorgan to Kyzylorda.
Lawyer Galym Nurpeisov has repeatedly raised concerns about Mukhamedkarim's solitary confinement, hunger strikes, and lack of medical care.

The Appeal

Lawyer Galym Nurpeisov filed appeals with the Presidential Administration and the Prosecutor General's Office regarding his client Duman Mukhamedkarim. The defense is seeking Mukhamedkarim's transfer to a facility closer to Almaty and access to comprehensive medical treatment. Nurpeisov stated that Mukhamedkarim has been held separately from other inmates for an extended period and has repeatedly gone on hunger strikes. In early September, relatives reported a significant deterioration in Mukhamedkarim's health.

Case Background

Mukhamedkarim was arrested in June 2023 over an interview he conducted with Mukhtar Ablyazov, an opposition politician living abroad. Investigators classified his actions as participation in a banned organization and financing of extremism. Mukhamedkarim and his defense rejected the charges throughout the proceedings. In August 2024, the Konaev court found him guilty under Part 2 of Article 405 and Part 1 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code. The trial was held behind closed doors, and the appellate court upheld the verdict in November 2024.

Detention Conditions

Mukhamedkarim was transferred from Taldykorgan to Kyzylorda in December 2024. Since then, his lawyer, relatives, and rights defenders have reported hunger strikes, disciplinary penalties, prolonged solitary confinement, and health problems. In 2025, Nurpeisov said letters written by Mukhamedkarim did not reach the Presidential Administration, the Prosecutor General's Office, or other addressees. In 2026, the defense again demanded his transfer and medical treatment.