A court in Karaganda has sentenced a member of Kazakhstan's national falconry team for illegally keeping 35 birds of prey, reports infohub.kz.
According to the official Telegram channel of the Karaganda regional courts, the Kazybekbi District Court of Karaganda considered a criminal case involving the illegal acquisition and keeping of rare animal species. The pre-trial investigation charged the man under Part 1 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code.
During the court hearing, it was established that the defendant illegally acquired and kept rare and endangered animal species, including those whose circulation is regulated by international treaties of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as animals for which a ban on use has been introduced.
According to the indictment, in 2017 the man created an Instagram page where he posted content related to national hunting with birds of prey, as well as information on the care, keeping, and treatment of raptors. Later, unidentified individuals began delivering birds to him at an address in Karaganda on Turekulov Street, where he had arranged a place to keep them.
Between 2017 and February 5, 2026, as stated in the indictment, he received 35 birds of prey. During a search on February 5, 2026, all 35 birds were found and seized without the appropriate permits.
An expert examination revealed that among the seized birds, 31 were saker falcons, one was a peregrine falcon, two were golden eagles, and one was a goshawk.
In court, the defendant fully admitted his guilt and repented, asking for an amnesty act to be applied to him. The court considered as mitigating circumstances his sincere repentance, full admission of guilt, and having four minor children in his care. No aggravating circumstances were found.
Taking into account the requirements of criminal law, the court sentenced the man to 1 year and 6 months of restriction of liberty, with a 1-year ban on activities involving rare and endangered animal species, as well as animals for which a ban on use has been introduced. In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Amnesty in Connection with the Adoption of the New Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan," he was released from the main punishment of restriction of liberty.
The verdict has not yet entered into legal force.
Earlier, the Agency for Financial Monitoring reported that since 2017, the suspect, being a member of the "Kusbegilik" Federation and the national falconry team, had organized an illegal nursery on the territory of his household in Karaganda. During the search, 35 birds of prey were found and seized, including saker falcons, golden eagles, and a peregrine falcon. These species are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan and are classified as rare and endangered animals. The man was taken into custody.