Kazakhstan begins coordinating extradition of Chechen activist Mansur Movlaev, opens similar process for Navalny volunteer Yulia Yemelyanova

The Kazakhstani court has rejected asylum for Yulia Yemelyanova, a former volunteer of Alexei Navalny’s campaign office in St. Petersburg. Margarita Kuchusheva, from the Russian Antiwar Committee, revealed to The Insider that Kazakhstan is now ready to start the extradition process to Russia for Yemelyanova. Her legal team intends to appeal to Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court soon.

International rights activists have urged the United Nations to intervene by issuing a special UN Human Rights Committee order to halt any extradition while Yemelyanova’s case is under review. Kuchusheva stated that despite strong international pressure, Kazakhstan has decided to hand over both Yemelyanova and Chechen activist Mansur Movlaev to Russia.

Regardless of the UN emergency measures and the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, Mariana Katzarova, Kazakh authorities have started coordinating the extradition of Movlaev with Russia. Both Yemelyanova and Movlaev had written to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in July, pleading him to prevent their extradition to Russia.

Movlaev even attempted suicide in a pretrial detention center in Kazakhstan, but doctors managed to save his life. Movlaev and his defense team claim that extradition could lead to his murder in Chechnya, where he is from. Russian authorities have filed charges of extortion and extremism against Movlaev, while Yemelyanova faces a theft charge.

The Insider’s report in April highlighted Kazakhstan as a particularly risky destination for anti-war Russians seeking asylum or refuge. Rights advocates advise Russians against entering Kazakhstan even for transit.