In June 2012, after the Zhanaozen massacre, Mamai was arrested on charges of “inciting social hatred” due to his participation in the oil worker strike. He personally covered and commented on other publications about the rights of protesting oil workers and criticized the authorities regarding the prosecution of oil industry protesters, referring to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international laws that Kazakhstan has ratified and which guarantee citizens the right to peaceful rallies and protests. He spent several months in prison. Mamai was released on 13 July 2012.