Russia Not Obliged to Disclose Entry Bans, Says Kazakh Foreign Ministry

Russian authorities are not required to explain why they deny entry to foreign nationals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan stated, Orda.kz reports.

In response to questions in the Majilis regarding the denial of entry to several Kazakh citizens — including anti-corruption campaigner Didar Smagulov and journalists Lukpan Akhmedyarov and Irina Mednikova — Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin said he was hearing about these cases for the first time.

According to Rakhmetullin, countries have the right not to disclose the reasons for such decisions.

Rakhmetullin also noted that citizens may not always be aware they are on an entry ban list.

No one holds official lists. If our border guards allow you through, then there’s no issue on our side. We have no control over decisions made by another country. The regulations, including those for visas and consular issues, clearly state: a country may explain the reason, but it is not obliged to. You can try to find out, but no one guarantees a response. 

On May 17, Irina Mednikova, journalist and founder of the Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan, reported on Facebook that she had been listed as an "undesirable person" in Russia.

Earlier, Didar Smagulov, executive director of the public association Adildiq Zholy, stated that the Russian Federal Security Service had imposed a lifetime entry ban against him.

Journalists Lukpan Akhmedyarov and Raul Uporov have also faced similar restrictions.

Earlier, Russian media recently reported that historian Andrei Grozin was denied entry into Kazakhstan.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova