Kazakhstan opens criminal case over fake news targeting ex-MP Azat Peruashev

September 30, 2026 at 12:42 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry registered a criminal case on September 28 over the spread of knowingly false information targeting former MP Azat Peruashev. Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov announced the investigation at a Kurultai briefing, saying cybercrime units are tracing site owners and billing data. The case follows cloned media sites that published fake articles about Peruashev.

Key Facts

The criminal case was registered on September 28 under the article on spreading knowingly false information.
Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov announced the investigation at a Kurultai briefing.
Cybercrime units are tracing billing data and identifying owners of cloned media sites.
Several forensic and technological expert examinations have been ordered, to be conducted by Ministry of Justice specialists.
Azat Peruashev reported the information attack on September 23, linking it to his party's work in the Kurultai.

Investigation Launch

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry registered a criminal case on September 28 over the spread of knowingly false information targeting former MP Azat Peruashev. Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov announced the investigation at a Kurultai briefing, responding to a question from journalist Zhaniya Urankayeva. Adilov said investigators are in contact with Peruashev and that the case has been taken under control.

Cybercrime Tracing

Units countering cybercrime are working on billing data and identifying owners of the websites where the false publications appeared. Some information about site owners has already been established, but the investigation is ongoing. Several special judicial and forensic technological expert examinations have been ordered, to be carried out by Ministry of Justice specialists. The Interior Ministry has not named specific individuals who may be behind the information attack, pending expert results.

Cloned Media Sites

Exclusive.kz reported discovering at least three clone sites copying its design and publishing a fake article about Peruashev that the editorial team never produced. All three clones used the same registration infrastructure and Cloudflare DNS servers. Clones of the publications Vlast and NEGE later appeared, also carrying fakes about the former Ak Zhol leader. Peruashev called the publications a provocation and said he intended to contact law enforcement.