Fairness Report: Marat Zhylanbaev

Marat Zhylanbaev is a public figure who first gained public attention as an ultramarathon runner before becoming a local elected official in Kazakhstan. More recently, Mr. Zhylanbaev has been a vocal critic of the Kazakhstan government. In particular, following the events of January 2022, Mr. Zhylanbaev sought to found his own political party, Alga, Kazakhstan! (“Forward, Kazakhstan!”). His efforts to register Alga, Kazakhstan!, however, were repeatedly rejected by the authorities: twenty-one times in total, according to materials he submitted to court.52 The Kazakh government has repeatedly tried to stifle Mr. Zhylanbaev’s civil and political activities through administrative charges and criminal prosecution.