Kazakh environmentalists Laura Malikova and Yerlan Kydyrbayev have been detained in different cities across the country. The activist is being held in a temporary detention facility in Astana, reportedly over calls for a rally. The former secretary of the «Baitak» party is suspected of embezzling state funds allocated for research projects.
LAURA MALIKOVA PLACED IN AN ASTANA DETENTION FACILITY
As reported by Hronika.kz, Laura Malikova's colleagues were unable to reach her for several days. Later, staff at the detention facility confirmed she was being held there.
The head of a legal consultancy, Abai Yerkebalan, said that according to the duty officer, the activist is being held there until 12 November 2026.
The grounds for detention are believed to be public calls to take part in a rally. Malikova's actions may have been classified under Part 7 of Article 488 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan («Violation of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the procedure for organising and holding peaceful assemblies»).
The environmentalist had also previously called on citizens to withdraw their deposit savings from banks. It is not known whether these statements are connected to her detention.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT AND PROSECUTOR GENERAL
Representatives of the environmental community have sent collective appeals to the President of Kazakhstan and the Prosecutor General asking them to verify the lawfulness of the detention.
The activists said they did not know whether a court hearing had taken place, whether a ruling on administrative arrest had been issued, or on what grounds Malikova is being held in the detention facility.
The published material contains no official clarification from law enforcement agencies.
YERLAN KYDYRBAYEV DETAINED IN FUNDS EMBEZZLEMENT CASE
The detention of the environmentalist and former secretary of the green party «Baitak», Yerlan Kydyrbayev, was reported by journalist Mikhail Kozachkov on his Telegram channel «Kozachkov offside».
According to the journalist, 50-year-old Kydyrbayev was placed in a temporary detention centre in Almaty. He is suspected of embezzling state funds allocated for research projects. The preliminary estimate of the damage is around 150 million tenge.
Kydyrbayev took part in implementing two projects financed by JSC «Science Fund». They envisaged the creation of production facilities for gluten-free and low-carbohydrate products for people with diabetes, coeliac disease and other conditions.
Hundreds of millions of tenge were allocated for the projects, which were transferred to the accounts of two companies.
INVESTIGATION EXAMINES EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT
According to the investigation's version, Kydyrbayev was formally listed as an employee of the enterprises but in fact controlled their activities.
As a source cited by Kozachkov claims, instead of new equipment the companies purchased second-hand machinery that did not meet the requirements. At the same time, its cost was significantly inflated in the documents.
It is suspected that the difference was cashed out and passed to Kydyrbayev. In addition, the companies may have drawn up fictitious delivery documents even though the products envisaged by the projects were never actually produced.
The investigation is being conducted by the Almaty Department of Economic Investigations. Kydyrbayev himself previously reported the criminal case on social media.
The materials provided contain no information on the final classification of the alleged offence or the official position of the investigation.
There is no information on any connection between the detentions of Malikova and Kydyrbayev.
