Co-founder of the publication ORDA Maksat Ganiyev stated that he is not seeking a real prison sentence for the former editor-in-chief and co-founder of the publication, Gulnara Bazhkenova. According to him, the demands are related to the return of funds.
WHAT MAKSAT GANIYEV SAID
As reported by Maksat Ganiyev, he did not and does not wish for Gulnara Bazhkenova to be deprived of her freedom. According to him, if the court listens to his arguments, he intends to speak out against imposing a sentence of actual imprisonment.
Ganiyev noted that his demands are related to the return of funds. According to him, he is seeking the return of everything that, he claims, is due to him personally and to the editorial board.
Furthermore, he reported that an audit conducted had revealed financial problems associated with the previous period of the editorial board's work.
‘Furthermore, the editorial board is still fighting off legal claims related to publications from ‘her era’. Each such claim is a potential blow to the budget,’ the publication states.
WHEN THE COURT HEARING WILL BEGIN
On 2 July 2026 in Almaty, court hearings will begin on the criminal case against Gulnara Bazhkenova. The case will be heard by the Bostandyk District Court No. 2 presided over by Judge Yelena Kvan.
Bazhkenova is charged under Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (‘Illegal Entrepreneurship’), Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (‘Dissemination of Knowingly False Information’) and Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (‘Appropriation or Embezzlement of Another's Property, Committed by an Organised Group or on an Especially Large Scale’).
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE CASE
The charges brought fall into the category of serious crimes. During the court proceedings, Gulnara Bazhkenova remains under house arrest. This preventive measure has been in effect since December 2025.
In addition, the court has appointed a state-appointed lawyer for the defendant. In January 2026, lawyer Murat Adam, who previously represented Bazhkenova's interests, had his licence revoked.
The conflict itself between the former co-founders was accompanied by legal disputes over the editorial board's activities and the company's ownership structure. At various times, the parties publicly put forward opposing versions regarding the management of the publication, the project's financing, and the circumstances of the corporate conflict.
