The Adil Soz Foundation expresses concern over the situation surrounding military journalist Vladimir Severny

A court previously denied Vladimir Severny parole despite his compliance with all legal requirements and support from both the prosecutor and the prison administration, his lawyer says

Lawyer Elena Zhigalenok has alleged violations of the law in the decision by the Alatau City Court in the Almaty Region to deny her client, Vladimir Severny, conditional early release (parole).

On 4 December 2023, the Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court of Almaty found military journalist Vladimir Severny and his wife, Nargiz Severnaya, guilty of extortion on an especially large scale. Vladimir Severny was sentenced to seven years in a medium-security correctional facility. Nargiz Severnaya was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the sentence deferred for five years because she has a young child. In January 2024, the appellate court upheld the verdict. Both journalists pleaded not guilty.

According to the lawyer, on 15 July 2026, after serving the legally required portion of his sentence and reaching the age of 63, Vladimir Severny became eligible to apply for parole under Part 4 of Article 72 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The journalist has fully met the requirements of Article 72 of the Criminal Code:

• There was no property damage, and all court costs and the required payment to the Victim Compensation Fund have been paid in full.
• He has committed no serious violations of prison rules.
• He has been assigned the second positive level of conduct, has received five commendations, has been transferred to less restrictive conditions, and is employed at the correctional facility.

Both the prison administration and the prosecutor supported his application. However, Judge Bauyrzhan Raisov denied parole, stating that the materials submitted “do not demonstrate a sufficient degree of rehabilitation” and that compliance with prison rules is merely an obligation of a convicted person.

The defence considers this conclusion unfounded and inconsistent with the Regulatory Resolution of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan and has filed an appeal.

The Adil Soz Foundation calls on the appellate court to provide an objective legal assessment of the case, ensure strict compliance with the requirements of Kazakhstan’s legislation, and uphold the journalist’s right to conditional early release.