Zhengis Reskhan (جەڭىس رەسحان, born 1968) is a Kazakh from Barkol, Kumul, Xinjiang. As a writer, playwright, and comedian, he is also a member of the China Writers Association, a contracted writer with the Xinjiang Writers Association, a chief editor of the Kazakh language section of Hami Literature, and vice chairman of the Kumul Writers Association. Known for his distinctive satirical style, he has worked across literature and the performing arts, earning him recognition as a representative of deputy Kazakh humorous literature.
1. Literary Works
Zhengis’s major works include the trilogy The Growth of Tomupak, the satirical short story collections The Monkey’s Bodyguard and Thorn Grass, the humorous sketch collection Remote Control, the children’s book The Modern Crow and the Fox, and the first collection of xiangsheng scripts written in Kazakh. His essay collection Reflections on Shanghai documents his experiences in the Shanghai–Xinjiang Creative Writing Program. The themes of his works later shifted from the grasslands and the lives of herders to urban life, and his works have been translated into multiple languages, attracting readers from many different ethnic backgrounds. Zhengis was the author of eleven published books, some of which have been translated into Chinese
His literary achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Pegasus Prize (2003), the national Steed Awards for Ethnic Literature (2007),the Xinjiang Young Writers Award (2008), and the Tengri Literature and Arts Award (2012). He was also recognized as an outstanding participant in the Shanghai–Xinjiang Creative Writing Program.
2. Stage Performances
Beyond his literary career, Zhengis Reskhan’s comedy performances have appeared on the Xinjiang Television Spring Festival Gala, and his monologues, including Praising My Wife and Positive Energy Jokes, have gained widespread popularity on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok). Drawing on sketches from everyday life—such as jokes about “23 pairs of shoes versus two pairs” and “makeup costing as much as three times”—his performances have attracted tens of millions of views.
He has also released DVD and cassette recordings of his performances, blending traditional Kazakh proverbs with contemporary comedic themes. Through grassroots touring performances, he has promoted bilingual comedy among Kazakh- and Chinese-speaking audiences.
3. Detention
From 19 March 2026 to today, Zhengis has been missing. According to his family in Almaty, who later made inquiries through multiple channels, he had been taken away for investigation by the Public Security Bureau in Barkol and later transferred to a prison.
According to Uyghur Hjelp on July 27, Zhengis is still being detained at the detention center, but he was allowed to meet with a lawyer several days ago. The lawyer said that he looked weak and miserable.
Zhengis told the lawyer that police officers had asked him to sign a confession letter admitting that he had “extremist ideology,” but he refused. “I don’t have an extreme ideology. If you want me to sign those documents, I will not. Rather than signing this letter, just kill me,” Zhengis told the officers. The lawyer said that if Zhengis signed the confession, he would be sentenced to ten to fifteen years in prison.
Zhengis’s wife is a teacher and is currently under pressure. The local education department asked her to talk to her son and tell him not to talk about his father’s case anymore.
Zhengis’s son, Nartai Zhengis, has received threatening phone calls from both China and Kazakhstan, telling him to stop talking with the media. In addition, Nartai has had to change jobs three times. Each time, his employer asked him to resign without providing any reason, only saying that he was “too political.”
It is reported that Zhengis Reskhan will face a closed-door trial in August.
Translated by Minnie Lee
Updated by Gong Jiangyu on 27. 07. 2026
