Entry into Russia is being denied: Kazakh activists are being chased away

In recent months, entry bans against Kazakh citizens at the Russian border have been increasing. In some cases, this process is carried out without any official explanations. In particular, individuals who are active in society and sympathize with Ukraine are suffering the most from these bans.

A vivid example of this is Didar Smagulov, executive director of the "Adolat Yuli" organization, known for its activities in Kazakhstan. As he wrote on his Facebook page, when crossing the Russian border, border guards of the Federal Security Service informed him that he was banned from entering Russia for life. Smagulov openly expressed his support for Ukraine on social networks, calling Russia an "occupying state", and also posted Ukrainian flags and slogans. In 2024, he was awarded an award from the US State Department.

The problem is not limited to Smagulov. Yerzhan Bateshov from Kazakhstan also found himself in a similar situation. While preparing for a flight to Russia in Astana, he was unable to check in for the flight, despite having a ticket. He was told at the ticket office that he was “banned from entering Russia.” It was discovered that Bateshov had shared videos on social media showing the Ukrainian army attacking a Russian facility.

In addition, a Kazakh woman named Eliya Akhetova reported that she had been banned from entering Russia for 10 years starting in 2022.

While such situations are quite common for Ukrainian citizens, this is the first time such a mass trend has been observed among Kazakh citizens. Ukrainian citizens entering Russia are being questioned and subjected to serious checks at the border, with some being denied entry for 20-50 years.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin commented on the issue. According to him, each state has the right to make its own sovereign decisions, and the reasons for refusing entry may not be disclosed. He noted that currently Kazakhstan does not have a list of citizens banned from entering Russia.

Since April, Russia has introduced a system of digital profiling for foreigners. This new procedure allows for a preliminary analysis of each visitor.

From the editorial office of Zamin.uz:
The fact that civil society activists are being treated this way at the border can send a serious signal to international diplomatic relations. Freedom of speech, expression, and open borders are fundamental human rights. What do you think: what balance should be struck between state security and civic activity?