Accessibility links

Breaking News

Kazakh Citizen Jailed For Separatism


Kazakh Court Imprisons Pro-Russia Separatist
please wait

No media source currently available

0:00 0:00:42 0:00

PETROPAVLOVSK, Kazakhstan -- A Kazakh citizen has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison after being found guilty of inciting separatism via the Internet.

On December 5, a court in the northern city of Petropavlovsk found Igor Chuprin guilty of inciting ethnic discord and promoting separatism, saying that he posted calls on the Internet to make Kazakhstan part of Russia.

He was sentenced the same day.

The North Kazakhstan region and its capital, Petropavlovsk, are home to a heavy population of ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking Kazakh citizens. The region borders Russia.

At least four Kazakh nationals have been sentenced since 2015 for inciting separatism and ethnic hatred via the Internet.

The prosecutions have come amid heightened government concern over Moscow's intentions following its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have seized control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service offers informed and accurate reporting in the Kazakh and Russian languages about issues that matter in Kazakhstan, while providing a dynamic platform for audience engagement and the free exchange of news and ideas.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG