Former editor-in-chief of Kazakhstan's Orda newspaper sentenced to 8 years in prison

Gulnara Bajkenova, the former editor-in-chief of the Kazakh newspaper Orda, was sentenced to 8 years in prison by an Almaty court, but the sentence was suspended for two years, Tengrinews reported.

Bajkenova was charged under three articles of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan: knowingly spreading false information (Article 274), embezzlement or misappropriation of entrusted property (Article 189), and illegal entrepreneurial activity (Article 214).

According to the verdict of the Almaty City Court, from November 2024 to December 2025, Bajkenova, using her official position as the head of LLC, embezzled 88 million 144 thousand 127 tenge from the company's accounts. These funds were allegedly transferred to the account of an individual entrepreneur under her control as payment for advertising, professional and scientific services. These funds were also used to pay for her son’s education at a private international school.

According to the investigation materials, Bajkenova, without registering as an individual entrepreneur, received 121.2 million tenge (264.8 thousand US dollars) in income from buying and selling apartments in Almaty. The relevant taxes were not paid on this income.

The court also considered episodes related to the dissemination of information. The verdict states that during 2024-2025, Bajkenova, as the editor-in-chief of an information and analytical portal, together with a group of persons who had previously colluded, knowingly disseminated false information through Internet resources and social networks in a total of 8 episodes. As a result, serious harm was caused to the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, organizations and the state.

By the court verdict, Bajkenova was found guilty and sentenced to 8 years in prison. She was also banned from engaging in media, journalism, blogging, public events and other public activities for 5 years, as well as from holding leadership and materially responsible positions in organizations related to the media.

The execution of the sentence was postponed for two years due to the fact that the convict has a child under the age of 14. In addition, the court decided to recover 95.9 million tenge ($207,000) in compensation for material damage. It was also determined to recover 2.8 million tenge in state duty and 6.8 million tenge ($13,600) for legal assistance and procedural costs of the injured party.

The court verdict has not yet entered into legal force.

**How did Gulnara Bajkenova become a figure in a criminal case?**

On December 1, 2025, searches were conducted in Almaty at Bajkenova's apartment and the editorial office of "Orda.kz". At that time, the city police confirmed that investigative actions were being carried out. According to the Almaty Police Department, the pre-trial investigation was initiated based on applications from citizens on cases of repeated and intentional dissemination of knowingly false information. During the investigative actions, electronic devices and various materials were seized from Bajkenova. The police stated that these items were necessary to establish the circumstances of the preparation and publication of the materials, as well as to verify their origin.

**Who is Gulnara Bajkenova?**

Gulnara Bajkenova is a Kazakh journalist and media manager, founder and former editor-in-chief of the online publication "Orda.kz". She graduated from the Faculty of Philology of the Kazakh National University and began her career in journalism while still a student. Over the years, Bajkenova has worked in Kazakh media and media projects, including in leadership positions.

**Orda.kz and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan**

On September 4, 2025, Orda.kz, citing its sources, reported the arrest of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry and official agencies immediately denied this. Orda and Gulnara Bajkenova initially insisted that their information was correct. A few days later, Nurtleu appeared in public and called the news of his arrest "false and absurd."

Three weeks after these reports, on September 26, Nurtleu did indeed resign as Foreign Minister. But he was not arrested: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed him assistant to the president for international investment and trade cooperation. Because of this, a major scandal erupted around Bajkenova and Orda at that time. The Almaty prosecutor's office also warned Bajkenova of the possibility of criminal liability after the news about Nurtleu.

However, the Almaty court verdict charged Bajkenova with eight counts of knowingly spreading false information. The open court materials mention KazMunayGaz, Kazakhstan Railways, the deputy prosecutor of Almaty, and other individuals and organizations among the victims under Article 274. Nurtleu is not listed in these eight counts.