Fr Yakov Vorontsov – an independent Orthodox priest in the southern city of Almaty – is due to complete a 10-day jail term on 23 February on drugs charges that he and his supporters reject. His supporters fear he might be rearrested on criminal drugs charges. The priest – who marks his 40th birthday today (20 February) – leads a newly-created parish that has tried to gain state registration. Justice Department officials rejected the first application. The parish lodged a second application on 9 January.

Fr Yakov is a strong critic of Russia's war against Ukraine and of the Moscow Patriarchate for supporting the war. Kazakhstan's Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate defrocked Fr Yakov in July 2023 (see below).

Investigators began a criminal investigation of Fr Yakov for alleged "incitement" for comments he made online about the Moscow Patriarchate and Russia's war. The investigator closed the case only in April 2025 after nearly 16 months. Russian Orthodox clergy have publicly called for the case to be reopened (see below).

On 20 November 2025, Orthodox Christians met in Almaty to found the Independent Community of Orthodox Christians in Honour of the Transfiguration of the Lord, with Fr Yakov as leader of the community. On 17 December 2025, the parish lodged its registration application with Almaty City Justice Department. The application had signatures of 54 founders. Article 12 of the Religion Law requires a local religious organisation to have at least 50 adult citizen founders (see below).

The Justice Department rejected the parish's registration application six days later. It said one of the founders was ineligible. The parish lodged a challenge to the rejection in court, but withdrew it when it submitted a new application on 9 January 2026. The Justice Department officials who rejected the application did not answer their phones each time Forum 18 called (see below).

On 9 January, Fr Yakov complained to the Justice Ministry in Astana on behalf of the Transfiguration of the Lord parish over the "unlawful denial of registration". The Justice Ministry's Registration and Legal Services Committee rejected the complaint in a two-minute online hearing chaired by M. Zhamaliyev. He refused absolutely to answer any questions about the rejection of the parish's complaint. "We give no comments," he told Forum 18 (see below).

On 7 January, "strange behaviour" began around Fr Yakov's home in Almaty. "Men in civilian clothes came to my house and secretly took photographs," he told Forum 18. Unknown people also started calling those who signed the parish's registration application. "On 8 January, some people posing as officials called the participants of the founding meeting and asked whether they had truly and voluntarily participated in the meeting and whether they supported the initiative to establish a church" (see below).

At about half past midnight on 13 February, OMON riot police with dogs raided Fr Yakov's home in Almaty. They were accompanied by investigators. Police searched his home, claiming later to have found a "powdered substance". They then arrested him. On 13 February, an Almaty court sentenced him to 10 days' imprisonment on drugs charges (see below).

Forum 18 could not reach anyone at Almaty Police prepared to answer questions on the raid and arrest (see below).

Fr Yakov denied that the powder found in his home belonged to him. "I imagine that it was planted with the aim of sorting me out and discrediting me," he wrote in a letter from prison. "The whole world knows of my choice of the Gospel, not of the 'Russian World' [russky mir]; peace and not war; freedom of conscience and not submission to evil clothed in episcopal omophorions [robes]" (see below).

Fr Yakov wrote that he now faces a criminal investigation, which "appears to be fabricated and ordered".

Fr Yakov's lawyer Galym Nurpeisov believes the authorities launched the original criminal case (closed in 2025), then the administrative and then new criminal case for two reasons. "It was a result of his wanting to register an independent Orthodox parish, and of his criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine," he told Forum 18 (see below).

Human rights defender Galym Ageleuov, head of the Liberty human rights group, insists that there is no substance to accusations that Fr Yakov maintained a drug den in his home. He sees Fr Yakov's case as important for wider society. "The fate of Yakov Vorontsov is very important because he is like a litmus test, an indicator of the state of our country, and it is important to support him in this difficult moment" (see below).

State-imposed Muslim monopoly, Russian Orthodox monopoly also?

The regime has granted a monopoly on Muslim activity to the state-controlled Muslim Board (Muftiate) without ever explaining why it is doing so. The Muslim Board is the only registered Muslim organisation in Kazakhstan, and all mosques must be subject to it. Officials punish unregistered Muslim prayers and education, and forcibly close prayer rooms.

Earlier, the regime was prepared to register non-Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox communities. Several communities - including those of the True Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad - existed outside the framework of the Moscow Patriarchate's local dioceses. However, the regime appears now to have a policy of preventing the exercise of freedom of religion or belief by any new Orthodox communities outside the framework of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Fr Gennady Subbotin leads a non-Moscow Patriarchate community in Kostanai Region which had its church in Oktyabrskoe taken from it in June 2023. He thinks officials listen to the views of the Moscow Patriarchate Church, which does not want other Orthodox jurisdictions to exist. "Most likely they wouldn't give registration if we applied now," he told Forum 18 in April 2025. "They hope that if they make life difficult for us, we'll renounce our position"

Laura Shirimbayeva, head of the Religious Affairs Committee's Department dealing with Christian and other communities in the Culture and Information Ministry in Astana, would not say directly if Orthodox communities outside the framework of the Moscow Patriarchate would or would not be allowed to register. "Anyone has the right to lodge a registration application if it meets the requirements of the Religion Law," she told Forum 18 in December 2024.

Asked if it would register for example a community subject to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as then being proposed by Fr Yakov Vorontsov, Shirimbayeva responded: "They have not yet lodged any application." She then put the phone down. Shirimbayeva did not answer her phone each time Forum 18 called on 19 and 20 February 2026.

Fr Yakov's 16-month criminal investigation closed in April 2025

Anti-war Orthodox priest Fr Yakov (Vladimir Yuryevich Vorontsov, born 20 February 1986) was a priest of Kazakhstan's Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate, serving in his native city of Almaty, including at the city's Ascension Cathedral. In July 2023, the Diocesan Council ruled to defrock him. He originally hoped to create an Orthodox parish in Almaty under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but more recently has sought to register an independent Orthodox parish.

In August 2023, Fr Yakov wrote a 104-word post on Facebook complaining that the Russian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate – with which he was increasingly disillusioned because of its support for Russia's war against Ukraine – "has long had nothing in common with Christianity". After an anonymous denunciation, Almaty Police summoned him for questioning. He deleted the post in late 2023.

On 27 December 2023, Almaty City Police opened an investigation into Fr Yakov under Criminal Code Article 174, Part 1 over the Facebook post, according to case materials seen by Forum 18.

Article 174, Part 1 punishes "Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, or religious discord, insult to the national honour and dignity or religious feelings of citizens, as well as propaganda of exclusivity, superiority or inferiority of citizens on grounds of their religion, class, national, generic or racial identity, committed publicly or with the use of mass media or information and communication networks, as well as by production or distribution of literature or other information media, promoting social, national, clan, racial, or religious discord" with a maximum punishment of a 7-year jail term.

On 22 April 2025, after nearly 16 months, Police Investigator Samat Atakhan of Almaty City Police's Investigation Department finally closed his criminal investigation into Fr Yakov. The 5-page decision to close the case – seen by Forum 18 – declares that "the criminal case is subject to closure because of the absence in [Fr Yakov's] actions of the substance of a criminal offence".

"Of course, you could say that 16 months of my life was stolen," Fr Yakov wrote on Facebook on 8 May 2025. "It's difficult to say how much in nerves all this cost me and those close to me. And no one will compensate me for this. But I hold no grudge against anyone."

Investigator Atakhan refused to discuss anything with Forum 18 in December 2024. He did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called in April or May 2025.

Investigator Atakhan's boss at Almaty Police, Lieutenant-Colonel Irina Litvinenko, refused absolutely to discuss the criminal investigation into Fr Yakov. "I can't give any information," she told Forum 18 in April 2025. She then put the phone down. She did not answer her phone when Forum 18 called in May 2025.

Justice Department rejects Orthodox parish's registration application

On 20 November 2025, Orthodox Christians met in Almaty to found the Independent Community of Orthodox Christians in Honour of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The 54 adult citizens present (28 men and 26 women) elected Fr Yakov as leader of the community.

On 17 December 2025, the independent parish lodged its registration application with Almaty City Justice Department. The application had signatures of 54 founders. Article 12 of the Religion Law requires a local religious organisation to have at least 50 adult citizen founders.

On 23 December 2025, Almaty City Justice Department, rejected the parish's registration application. The rejection, signed by Deputy Head Zauresh Zatkhozhina (and seen by Forum 18), claims that one of the 54 founders is the only founder of an inactive legal entity. Having a founder of such an inactive legal entity violates Article 11 of the Law on State Registration of Legal Entities.

Zatkhozhina of Almaty City Justice Department did not answer her phone each time Forum 18 called on 19 and 20 February 2026. Nor did Olga Pak, head of its Control and Registration of Non-Commercial Organisations Department, who co-signed the registration rejection.

Parish resubmits application amid threats

On 7 January, "strange behaviour" began around Fr Yakov's home in Almaty. "Men in civilian clothes came to my house and secretly took photographs," he told Forum 18 on 9 January. He added that when his neighbour saw them, they pretended to leave. Then they returned and started taking photographs again. "Why would they secretly photograph my house? They could have asked - I would have sent them the photos myself."

Unknown people also started calling those who signed the parish's registration application. "On 8 January, some people posing as officials called the participants of the founding meeting and asked whether they had truly and voluntarily participated in the meeting and whether they supported the initiative to establish a church," Fr Yakov told Forum 18 on 9 January. "An investigation is underway. This is strange, since a refusal order has been signed, and we haven't resubmitted the documents yet, so there are no grounds for an investigation."

On 9 January, the Transfiguration of the Lord parish resubmitted its application to Almaty City Justice Department.

Human rights defender Galym Ageleuov, head of the Liberty human rights group, noted on his YouTube channel on 18 February that if the authorities refuse to register religious communities, such as the independent Orthodox parish led by Fr Yakov, this would show they do not want religious communities "to have the possibility to breathe freely. It turns out that the most important thing for such a state is control."

Suit to annul the Justice Department rejection

Fr Yakov prepared a suit against Almaty City Justice Department over the registration denial, which he lodged to Almaty City Specialised Inter-District Administrative Court on 10 January. The suit called for the court to annul the Justice Department's rejection of the application and to order it to register the Orthodox community.

On 3 February 2026, Judge Ulyana Zhalmukhambetova ruled that there was no reason not to proceed with hearing Fr Yakov's suit. She set an online hearing to prepare for the initial hearing for 5pm on 9 February, according to her ruling seen by Forum 18.

"The court secretary created a group in advance. Got the participants in," Fr Yakov wrote that evening on his Facebook page. "We are waiting. But the hearing didn't start at 5pm, nor until now. There are no explanations. I ask in the group: whether the hearing will take place or will it be postponed - there is no answer. Is this normal court practice?"

Fr Yakov then withdrew the suit because of the parish's new registration application. "If there is a new refusal, the suit can be reinstated," his lawyer Galym Nurpeisov told Forum 18.

Justice Ministry rejects parish's complaint "without considering merits of our arguments"

On 9 January 2026, Fr Yakov complained to the Justice Ministry in the capital Astana on behalf of the Transfiguration of the Lord parish over the "unlawful denial of registration". The Justice Ministry's Registration and Legal Services Committee rejected the complaint in a two-minute online hearing chaired by M. Zhamaliyev on 16 January. The written rejection, prepared by M. Zhamaliyev, was signed by a Committee Deputy Chair Dauren Kusainov.

Fr Yakov said the Justice Ministry dismissed the complaint "without considering the merits of our arguments", as he wrote in a complaint to the United Nations.

Kusainov did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 19 February. Reached the same day, Zhamaliyev refused absolutely to answer any questions about the rejection of the parish's complaint. "All is in the official response," he told Forum 18. "We give no comments," he replied to all further questions. He then put the phone down.

Complaint to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

On 22 January, Fr Yakov sent a complaint on behalf of the parish to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (and seen by Forum 18).

"The religious group adheres to anti-war beliefs and seeks to establish itself independently of the Moscow Patriarchate," Fr Yakov wrote. "The Russian Orthodox Church is waging an information campaign against our religious group and exerting pressure on the state - the Republic of Kazakhstan - using Russian media to prevent the establishment (or official registration) of our religious community."

Fr Yakov insisted that "the creation of our communities poses no threat to the interests of the Russian Orthodox Church".

Moscow Patriarchate calls for criminal case to be reopened

Priests of Fr Yakov's former diocese of Almaty of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate called in January 2026 in social media videos for the criminal case for "incitement" of "discord" to be reopened against him.

On 20 January, the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox television channel Spas – owned by the Moscow Patriarchate – broadcast a 45-minute talk show attacking Fr Yakov.

Fr Yakov is suing Russian Orthodox clergy for defamation in the courts, his lawyer Galym Nurpeisov told Forum 18.

Arrest, 10-day jail term

At about half past midnight on 13 February, OMON riot police with dogs raided Fr Yakov's home in Almaty. They were accompanied by investigators. Police searched his home, claiming later to have found a "powdered substance". They then arrested him.

Officials had already obtained approval for the raid from Almaty City Investigative Court, his lawyer Galym Nurpeisov told Forum 18. (Like other cases related to Fr Yakov, the hearing is not included in public court case listings.)

Forum 18 could not reach anyone at Almaty Police on 19 or 20 February prepared to answer questions on the raid and arrest.

A hastily-arranged medical examination of Fr Yakov claimed to find a narcotic in his blood. "I believe there could have been a medical mistake," Nurpeisov told Forum 18. He insists that Fr Yakov should not have been arrested before the medical examination had taken place.

Officials prepared a case against Fr Yakov under Administrative Code Article 440-1 ("Non-medical use of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, as well as potent substances"). They sent the case to Almaty Specialised Inter-District Administrative Court. On 13 February, Judge Saule Khozhakhmetova found Fr Yakov guilty and sentenced him to 10 days' imprisonment.

The Judge's secretary did not answer the phone each time Forum 18 called on 20 February.

"The administrative case has just been held this lunchtime," Fr Yakov's lawyer Galym Nurpeisov noted on 13 February. "They gave him 10 days' imprisonment in the administrative case. He did not admit guilt. I will lodge an appeal. I am now waiting for the court decision."

Nurpeisov lodged the appeal on 15 February. In the evening of 17 February, Almaty City Court rejected the appeal. (Like other cases related to Fr Yakov, the hearing is not included in public court case listings.)

Nurpeisov complains of "procedural violations" over the appeal. "As my client was in custody, the appeal should have been heard within 24 hours," he told Forum 18.

Fr Yakov is due to complete his 10-day jail term at 8 am on 23 February. It remains unclear if officials will release him then or hold him for further investigation on criminal charges (see below).

Fr Yakov rejects drugs allegations

On 16 February, one of Fr Yakov's lawyers Dias Akhmetov visited his client in Almaty Police's Detention Centre, the lawyer noted on his Facebook page the same day. He posted a four-page handwritten letter that Fr Yakov had written the previous day, asking that others report it.

Fr Yakov claimed the court had given him the 10-day jailing on the basis of the "erroneous conclusions of the expert analysis". "The judge heard but ignored the conclusions of my lawyer and me."

Fr Yakov noted the tribulations Satan "through his earthly slaves" had unleashed on him "trying to destroy the initiative to create in Kazakhstan an Independent Orthodox Church". He wrote of the "threats and risks" he had long faced because of this.

"The whole world knows of my choice of the Gospel, not of the 'Russian World' [russky mir]; peace and not war; freedom of conscience and not submission to evil clothed in episcopal omophorions [robes]," Fr Yakov insisted.

Fr Yakov denied that the powder found in his home belonged to him. "I imagine that it was planted with the aim of sorting me out and discrediting me," he wrote. He said many people visited his home. "Various people came to me for pastoral comfort and a good word." He said it was "not hard to guess" who might have wanted to discredit him.

Fr Yakov identified what he saw as the two main motivations for the case against him. The first was to "hide their canonical crime", he wrote. "They rushed to slander and false witness, and deprived me of my orders as a priest, because of my striving for peace and for a faith independent of the aggressor country and its religious institutions."

The second motivation was, Fr Yakov wrote: "Not to allow competition, to prevent the appearance in Kazakhstan of an independent Orthodox religious association."

Fr Yakov wrote that he now faces a criminal investigation, which "appears to be fabricated and ordered".

New criminal case

Fr Yakov's lawyer Galym Nurpeisov also noted to the local media on 13 February that a new criminal case had been opened. Officials at the moment regard Fr Yakov as a witness in the case.

Almaty Police later announced that the criminal case related to "organising a den for drug use" (presumably under Criminal Code Article 302).

"A man born in 1986 was detained on suspicion," the Police announced. "Powdered substances were seized during the search. A medical examination confirmed his drug use."

Police Investigator Samat Atakhan – who led the investigation in the "incitement" criminal case against Fr Yakov at Almaty City Police's Investigation Department in 2024 and 2025 – did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 20 February.

Nurpeisov told Forum 18 on 19 February that he was unable to comment on the criminal case against Fr Yakov because of the ongoing investigation.

Human rights defender Galym Ageleuov, head of the Liberty human rights group, insists that there is no substance to accusations that Fr Yakov maintained a drug den in his home. "Those who came to his home were mostly those who wanted to support him," he noted on his YouTube channel on 18 February, and who wanted to "found their own parish".

Why the state pressure?

Fr Yakov's lawyer Galym Nurpeisov believes the authorities launched the original criminal case (closed in 2025), then the administrative and then new criminal case for two reasons. "It was a result of his wanting to register an independent Orthodox parish, and of his criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine," he told Forum 18.

Human rights defender Galym Ageleuov, head of the Liberty human rights group, also defends Fr Yakov. "He is absolutely sincere and honest, and he wants to advance the interests of those who are for peace," he told Radio Liberty's Kazakh Service on 17 February. "There is no propaganda in his sermons."

"This is not a schism," Ageleuov noted on his YouTube channel on 18 February. "This is a possibility to be an independent entity in Kazakhstan and form their own direction in Orthodoxy. This is good, because if you oppose war and are ready to speak about it, this is on the contrary a plus."

Ageleuov sees Fr Yakov's case as important for wider society. "The fate of Yakov Vorontsov is very important because he is like a litmus test, an indicator of the state of our country, and it is important to support him in this difficult moment." (END)

More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Kazakhstan

For background information, see Forum 18's Kazakhstan freedom of religion or belief survey

Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments

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