Kazakhstan's MFA negotiates with Russia on return of citizens from war zone

Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry is holding consultations with the Russian side on the return of Kazakh citizens who have found themselves in a combat zone. Some families have already appealed for help. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

This was announced by the ministry's official spokesperson, Zhanbolat Usenov. According to him, appeals from Kazakh citizens asking for assistance in returning to their homeland are being circulated in the media. The ministry stressed that it treats the situation with the utmost seriousness.

"Protecting the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of Kazakh citizens abroad is an unconditional priority of the Ministry's activity," Usenov said.

He noted that the MFA has practical experience in returning compatriots from combat zones in various countries and regions of the world. To provide assistance, the ministry needs complete and reliable information directly from the citizens themselves or their relatives, and not only from media reports.

To ensure legal protection, the MFA asks for the surnames and first names of citizens, their dates of birth, their presumed location, as well as information about the terms of the employment contracts they have concluded.

A special hotline operates at the ministry for relatives of Kazakh citizens who have found themselves in a combat zone. Usenov asked the media to help spread the contact details.

On 2 October, Kazakhstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Russia's charge d'affaires in Kazakhstan. In the near future, Kazakhstan's ambassador to Russia will hold meetings with the leadership of the Russian ministries of foreign affairs and defence.

"The progress and results of the work being carried out will be reported additionally," the MFA representative said.

Hotlines for issues concerning Kazakh citizens who have found themselves in a combat zone:

Earlier, Kursiv wrote that a 19-year-old resident of Shymkent said he and his friends were sent to the war in Ukraine instead of the promised job at a security agency in Russia. According to him, the young men were forced to sign military contracts under threats. In response to Kursiv's request, Kazakhstan's MFA said it had sent a diplomatic note to the Russian side.