Kazakhstan: Foreign Ministry Responds to Reports of Citizens Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

On December 9, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov addressed the lists published by the Ukrainian website “I Want to Live,” which include citizens of Kazakhstan reported to have fought for Russia, been killed, or gone missing, Orda.kz reports.

According to the site, nearly 300 Kazakhstanis may have ended up on the front lines in Ukraine — in some cases, allegedly under pressure. Russian recruiters reportedly rely on social networks, targeted advertising, and messaging apps.

Journalists asked why the Kazakh Foreign Ministry has not taken a stronger public position in response.

We've been expressing our position since the very first days of the conflict… I personally said: 'This is not our war.' The Foreign Ministry is not taking a passive stance here. The fact is, it's not the Foreign Ministry's job to monitor correspondence and social media. If a person volunteers, and the state isn't a nanny for every one of our citizens abroad, we can't hold them by the hand and force them to do or not do anything. Each person bears their own responsibility, Smadiyarov stated.

He stressed that if a citizen of Kazakhstan ends up in a difficult situation abroad and seeks help, diplomatic services will intervene to the best of their ability.

Authorities have blocked dozens of recruitment ads for the war in Ukraine since the beginning of the year.

An Orda.kz correspondent previously examined how Kazakhstanis are being recruited.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya