Uralsk resident gets a jail term of 8 years for recruiting Kazakhstanis to fight in Ukraine
A resident of the Kazakh city of Uralsk has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to recruit Kazakh citizens to take part in the war in Ukraine, My City reports, citing the press service of the West Kazakhstan Regional Court.
Investigators established that between February and July 2025, the man traveled to Russia several times, where he made contact with representatives of armed groups. After returning to Kazakhstan, prosecutors said, he began looking for people willing to go to the war zone, including among low-income citizens.
Potential recruits were offered financial incentives in return for agreeing to take part in combat. According to case materials, they were promised a one-time payment of between 2.5 million and 3 million rubles, a monthly salary of about 200,000 rubles, and assistance in obtaining Russian citizenship through an expedited procedure.
The defendant pleaded not guilty, saying he had not persuaded anyone to participate in hostilities.
However, prosecutors presented testimony from witnesses and victims, as well as evidence obtained from the defendant’s mobile phone. According to the court, an expert examination of messages found on the device confirmed that he had been involved in recruitment activities.
The court reportedly found him guilty of attempted recruitment and recruitment for participation in an armed conflict under Article 24 (3) and Article 170 (1) of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code.
In determining the sentence, the court took into account that the defendant has a minor child. His previous criminal record was considered an aggravating circumstance.
He will serve his jail term in a medium-security penal colony. The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed.
Kazakhstan’s authorities have repeatedly warned citizens that participation in armed conflicts abroad can result in criminal prosecution, Fergana news agency noted. This includes participation in hostilities in Ukraine as part of foreign armed formations.
According to human rights advocates, hundreds of criminal cases have been opened in Kazakhstan in connection with citizens’ involvement in the war in Ukraine.
Last fall, the I Want to Live project published a list of nearly 270 Kazakh citizens who it said had died while serving in Russian military units in Ukraine. According to the project, most had served in motorized rifle regiments and brigades.
A resident of the Kazakh city of Uralsk has been sentenced to eight years in prison for attempting to recruit Kazakh citizens to take part in the war in Ukraine, My City reports, citing the press service of the West Kazakhstan Regional Court.
Investigators established that between February and July 2025, the man traveled to Russia several times, where he made contact with representatives of armed groups. After returning to Kazakhstan, prosecutors said, he began looking for people willing to go to the war zone, including among low-income citizens.
Potential recruits were offered financial incentives in return for agreeing to take part in combat. According to case materials, they were promised a one-time payment of between 2.5 million and 3 million rubles, a monthly salary of about 200,000 rubles, and assistance in obtaining Russian citizenship through an expedited procedure.
The defendant pleaded not guilty, saying he had not persuaded anyone to participate in hostilities.
However, prosecutors presented testimony from witnesses and victims, as well as evidence obtained from the defendant’s mobile phone. According to the court, an expert examination of messages found on the device confirmed that he had been involved in recruitment activities.
The court reportedly found him guilty of attempted recruitment and recruitment for participation in an armed conflict under Article 24 (3) and Article 170 (1) of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code.
In determining the sentence, the court took into account that the defendant has a minor child. His previous criminal record was considered an aggravating circumstance.
He will serve his jail term in a medium-security penal colony. The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed.
Kazakhstan’s authorities have repeatedly warned citizens that participation in armed conflicts abroad can result in criminal prosecution, Fergana news agency noted. This includes participation in hostilities in Ukraine as part of foreign armed formations.
According to human rights advocates, hundreds of criminal cases have been opened in Kazakhstan in connection with citizens’ involvement in the war in Ukraine.
Last fall, the I Want to Live project published a list of nearly 270 Kazakh citizens who it said had died while serving in Russian military units in Ukraine. According to the project, most had served in motorized rifle regiments and brigades.
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