Are Russian Citizens Still Safe in Kazakhstan?

Ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, media outlets began reporting on Russians abroad who oppose the war. One such piece was broadcast by the TV Rain (Dozhd), Orda.kz reports.

In the video report, TV Rain raised the question of whether Russians in Kazakhstan still feel safe, amid a series of cases rights advocates say are troubling.

One such case involves Mansur Mavlaev, who was detained in Almaty and placed in a pre-trial detention facility. Activists say he could face a politically motivated prosecution if he is returned to Russia.

Another case concerns Emelyanova, a Russian woman who was detained in a transit zone at the request of the Russian authorities. Officially, the request is linked to the alleged theft of a phone worth around 5 000 roubles. However, rights advocates note that she had previously attended rallies in support of Alexei Navalny, citing posts on her social media accounts.

The report also references instances of administrative arrests and pressure on activists in Russia.

TV Rain’s authors emphasize that, as a signatory to international human rights agreements, Kazakhstan must consider the risk of persecution when reviewing extradition requests. It is estimated that tens of thousands of Russian citizens have remained in Kazakhstan since 2022.

Kazakhstan’s authorities have previously stated that extradition decisions are made strictly in accordance with national legislation and international obligations.

TV Rain (Dozhd) is an independent Russian television channel that was founded in 2010. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, broadcasting in Russia was halted, but the newsroom continued to operate from abroad. The channel is renowned for its critical reporting on the Russian government and its regular coverage of opposition groups and migrant communities.

Original author: Natalya Ovchinnikova