(Almaty Region, Kazakhstan — April 7, 2026) In a remote village in southeastern Kazakhstan, an elderly father issued an appeal through a short video. His voice was calm yet filled with anxiety, telling a story about detention, due process, and the state.
Nurmukhan Arystan lives in Akshi Village, Enbekshikazakh District of Almaty Region. He said his son, Bakytnur Nurmukhan, has been detained for more than five months and has yet to receive fair treatment.
In a recent video described by Arystan, an incident he called “disturbing” occurred: two unidentified individuals entered the detention center and attempted to force his son to sign certain documents. “They asked him to sign without a lawyer present and pressured him,” he said.
His questioning points to a broader issue: whether judicial procedures in the country can guarantee detainees’ basic rights. “When will our country have justice?” he repeatedly asked in the video.
Arystan stated that the family has been kept informed of the case’s developments, while their economic situation has sharply deteriorated over time. “Our young people have grown up, life is difficult, and someone needs to support the family.”
According to individuals familiar with the matter, Bakytnur Nurmukhan’s arrest can be traced back to a public event last November, when activists protested the detention of a Kazakh truck driver in Xinjiang, China. A total of 19 individuals, including Nurmukhan, were detained by police, some merely for being present at the scene or for having ridden in a protester’s vehicle.
Critics argue that the operation involved excessive law enforcement measures. Some human rights observers note that such cases often involve vague charges and opaque procedures, making it difficult for detainees to mount an effective defense.
As of now, Kazakh authorities have not publicly responded to the specific allegations raised by Arystan in the video, nor have they disclosed the detailed legal grounds for the case.
At the end of the video, the father’s tone became restrained. He made no further accusations, but expressed a modest wish: “May justice always exist, let us stand for justice.”
Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid
