Kazakh authorities have placed Ekaterina Bivol, former spouse of renowned Russian boxer Dmitry Bivol, on their official wanted list. This was following social media posts that allegedly contained derogatory remarks about Kazakh and Kyrgyz ethnic groups.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kazakhstan verified the development, stating that criminal proceedings have been initiated against her.
According to their statement, “A criminal case has been opened. The individual named in your request has been placed on the wanted list and is being held in custody. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Further information is confidential in the interests of the investigation.”
The charges stem from content published on her social media platforms that reportedly included racially inflammatory language targeting people from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Under Kazakh law, actions deemed to incite ethnic discord can result in imprisonment for up to seven years.
This marks the second Central Asian nation to pursue legal action against Ekaterina Bivol. Law enforcement agencies in Kyrgyzstan had previously issued a wanted notice for her, with both countries coordinating their responses to the controversial social media activity.
The backlash against her posts quickly escalated online, prompting widespread condemnation from users across multiple platforms. Her Telegram account was subsequently removed after receiving numerous complaints from the public.
When approached for comment, Bivol acknowledged that she had sought legal counsel regarding the situation but refused to provide additional details about her case or future plans.
Adding an intriguing dimension to the case, records indicate that Ekaterina Bivol traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, just months earlier in August.
During that visit, she shared photographs and video footage featuring relatives who reside in the metropolis, documenting her time in the very country whose authorities now seek her detention.
Across Central Asian republics, governments have increasingly pursued legal action against individuals accused of spreading ethnic hatred or divisive rhetoric online.
