ISHR: Kazakhstan Must Urgently Stop the Extradition of Two Russian Regime Critics

The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), the consuls* of the Russian Anti-War Committee in exile and the human rights project The Ark are appealing to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stop the impending extradition of Russian anti-war activist Julia Emelianova and Chechen human rights activist Mansur Movlaev.

If deported to Russia, Julia Emelianova and Mansur Movlaev face imprisonment, torture and enforced disappearance.

Both are being held in pre-extradition detention in Kazakhstan and could be deported at any time. According to the ISHR, they face imprisonment, torture and enforced disappearance in Russia.

“Kazakhstan presents itself in Europe as committed to the rule of law and international cooperation. At the same time, people seeking protection there are in immediate danger of being handed over to the very state structures from which they fled,”

said ISHR German Section Chairman Edgar Lamm.

Mansur Movlaev reported on abductions, torture and fabricated criminal proceedings in Chechnya. He was himself abducted by Chechen security forces, tortured with electric shocks and subjected to abuse. His family also continues to face persecution, including his brother, who was recently abducted and sexually abused. In Chechnya, critics, human rights activists and their relatives are at serious risk of disappearance and death.

Julia Emelianova was active in Alexei Navalny’s St. Petersburg team and later supported Russian political prisoners and Ukrainian refugees. Russian authorities accuse her of allegedly stealing a mobile phone worth approximately €130. Her defence considers the proceedings to be politically motivated.

According to her lawyers, Emelianova could be transferred to Russia at any time. In Movlaev’s case, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has explicitly requested that Kazakhstan refrain from extraditing him until a decision has been reached on his complaint.

Their Fate Now Lies in the Hands of the Kazakh President

President Tokayev and the Kazakh authorities must decide whether to expose both individuals to politically motivated imprisonment, torture, sexual violence, poisoning, enforced disappearance and possibly death, or to allow them to leave for third countries.

Kazakhstan cannot seek closer cooperation with Europe while simultaneously disregarding its international human rights obligations. Europe must not legitimise such conduct. Otherwise, anyone persecuted by Russia who enters Kazakhstan could in future be at risk of extradition to Russia.

*The consuls of the Russian Anti-War Committee in exile support Russian opponents of the war living abroad who face extradition or deportation. They examine individual cases and publicly advocate for their protection.

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