A court in southern Kazakhstan on Thursday sentenced two activists to two years of probation for their involvement with banned political groups.

The court in Taraz found both Nazira Lesova and Nazira Lepesova guilty of organizing and participating in prohibited demonstrations as part of their activities with the groups Koshe (Street) Party and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK). The sentences come two days after Zhazira Qambarova, another DCK political activist, was also sentenced to two years of probation for similar activities.

The three women were arrested in February and are among several activists across Kazakhstan who have been arrested for participating in demonstrations ranging from marches in support of feminist rights to initiatives calling for significant governmental reforms.

Some have called the trials illegal, even alleging the use of intimidation tactics by government officials. No information on the respective cases is yet available on the national judicial database. However, both Nazira Lesova and Nazira Lepesova have reportedly rejected the verdicts and are expected to appeal.

The cases can be found when searching criminal cases when they become publicly available, in Court No. 2 of Taraz in the Jambyl Region, by using the following information:

• Nazira Lesova (ЛЕСОВА НАЗИРА ОРИСОВНА); Case No. 3111-21-00-1/97
• Nazira Lepesova (ЛЕПЕСОВА НАЗИРА АБДИКЕРИМОВНА); Case No. 3111-21-00-1/93
• Zhazira Qambarova (КАМБАРОВА ЖАЗИРА МУСУЛМАНКУЛОВНА); Case No. 3111-21-00-1/94