On April 23, the Astana court issued a verdict against LGBTQI activist Zhanar Sekerbayeva, finding her guilty of assault against a group of homophobic individuals who had themselves attacked her. The court imposed a fine of 173,000 tenge (USD 371). ECOM critically assesses this decision as unjust and inconsistent with the available evidence and the circumstances of the case.

At the end of 2025, Zhanar Sekerbayeva was attacked by an aggressive group of individuals. Zhanar, together with other activists, was in a café when unidentified people attacked them during a gathering, shouting anti-LGBT slogans.

There are video recordings and photographs of the incident; however, the judicial process contains a number of inconsistencies:

  • Zhanar reported the attack to law enforcement authorities, requesting an investigation, but her complaint was dismissed;
  • Instead of holding the attackers accountable, a criminal case was initiated against Zhanar herself;
  • The individuals who carried out the attack were recognized in court as victims, despite the existence of video and photographic evidence of their aggression.

These facts indicate a significant bias in the administration of justice and raise serious concerns about the objectivity of the judicial process. This case reflects a troubling trend of punitive measures being applied against LGBTQI human rights defenders in Kazakhstan. The court’s decision sets a dangerous precedent, whereby individuals defending their rights and safety are subjected to criminal prosecution based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

ECOM expresses our full support for Zhanar Sekerbayeva, the Feminita initiative, and all activists facing persecution for their work.

We call for:

  1. A review of the evidence, including video and photographic materials documenting the attack;
  2. A fair investigation of all individuals involved in the attack against the activists;
  3. The overturning of the verdict against Zhanar Sekerbayeva.