Photo courtesy of iapn.kz
The Karasai District Court in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan sentenced six police officers to three years in prison for torturing detainees during the January 2022 protests, including Kyrgyz jazz musician Vikram Ruzakhunov. The verdict, reported by KazTAG, was handed down to former Deputy Head of Almaty Police Berik Abilbekov and officers Bauyrzhan Sopakov, Nursultan Khamitov, Arman Shoibekov, Olzhas Aidarkhanov, and Serik Turpanbayev.
All six were found guilty under Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code for “Cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or torture” and “Abuse of power or official authority.” The convicted officers will serve their sentences in a medium-security prison and have been stripped of their ranks. They were taken into custody immediately after the verdict was announced.
The case officially included 44 victims, comprising citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The court heard evidence that, in January 2022, police brought 99 individuals to an abandoned detention facility in the village of Koshmambet without processing them officially. The detainees were subjected to beatings, humiliation, and coercion into false confessions for various crimes.
One of the victims was Kyrgyz jazz musician Vikram Ruzakhunov. Kazakh police forced him to record a video confession claiming he had traveled to Kazakhstan to participate in riots for financial reward. However, Ruzakhunov’s compatriots recognized him as an artist, sparking public outrage that led to his release. The incident prompted an official investigation into the torture allegations.
Following the verdict, lawyer Aina Shormanbayeva, representing the victims, announced plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the three-year sentences were too lenient.
Ruzakhunov filed a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for his ordeal. According to Orda.kz, the court partially granted his claim, awarding him 5 million tenge (over $9,000) instead of the 61 million tenge (approximately $115,000) he had requested.
The January 2022 protests in Kazakhstan, initially sparked by a surge in fuel prices, escalated into nationwide unrest, leading to violent crackdowns and numerous human rights abuses. This case marks a rare instance of law enforcement officers being held accountable for their actions during the events.
