Montenegro Grants International Protection Status to Kazakh Activist Dina Tansari And Her Husband

Montenegro has reportedly granted international protection status to Kazakh human rights defender Dina Tansari and her husband Almat Mukhamedzhanov, recognizing the criminal cases against them as politically motivated, Orda.kz reports.

After nearly two years of legal proceedings triggered by the prosecution of Tansari, Montenegro’s decision now guarantees the couple the right to reside in the country, receive medical and legal assistance, work and study, and eventually apply for citizenship and international travel.

In a statement on Instagram, Tansari said such status is only granted when there is documented evidence of mass human rights violations. Her case stems from a 2023 investigation in Kazakhstan, in which she was accused of fraud over a €44 transfer and became the subject of mass interrogations involving over 7,000 people.

Montenegrin experts found the charges disproportionate and politically motivated.

Despite the prosection, the NeMolchiKZ team continued its work: over two years, more than 30,000 consultations were held for victims of violence, protection was provided for 2,500 women, 72 criminal cases were brought to a verdict, including cases against police officers. The organization participated in the development of the Saltanat bill, released more than 1,500 publications, conducted lectures and research, including on the topic of the rights of women with disabilities. All this took place against the backdrop of pressure, threats, blocking and a lack of stable funding,"
 she said.

Montenegro’s ruling noted systemic pressure from Kazakh authorities and the implausibility of the criminal charges. 

Tansari fled Kazakhstan in 2023, requesting asylum after alleging she was targeted for her work with #NeMolchiKZ. Though Kazakh authorities opened several criminal cases against her, there were no complaints from alleged victims, and all financial reports were publicly available.

She was later detained in Montenegro at Kazakhstan’s request and held pending an extradition hearing. Around the same time, she reported pressure from the family of a deceased woman whose case her foundation had covered.

Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General confirmed six criminal cases, including large-scale fraud, claiming Tansari used donations for personal expenses. However, Montenegro refused extradition, citing the political nature of the charges and the absence of a treaty between the two countries.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov