Russia starts banning Kazakh citizens from entry, citing unspecified reasons

Among those affected is a Kazakh citizen who had openly expressed support for Ukraine on social media and referred to Russia as an aggressor.

Photo: RIA Novosti

More and more Kazakh citizens are being denied entry into Russia. One such case involved Didar Smagulov, Executive Director of the “Adolat Yoli” (Path of Justice) movement. According to a post he shared on Facebook, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) border guards informed him at the border that he is banned from entering the country for life.

Smagulov has publicly supported Ukraine – he referred to Russia as an aggressor on social media and shared Ukrainian slogans and flags. In 2024, he was awarded by former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his anti-corruption efforts.

The issue of entry bans is being actively discussed on platforms like Telegram and Facebook, and Smagulov is not the only one affected. According to Yerzhan Bateshov, another Kazakh citizen, he was prevented from boarding a flight in Astana. Although he had purchased a ticket and completed the payment, his name did not appear on the passenger list during check-in.

“They told me to go to the service counter, where I was informed that I was banned from entering Russia,” Bateshov wrote. He had previously posted videos related to Ukrainian military attacks on Russian oil facilities.

Another Kazakh citizen, Eliya Akhetova, said she has been banned from entering Russia for a period of ten years, starting from March 2022.

It is noted that the ban on Kazakh citizens entering Russia does not appear to be as widespread as the bans imposed on Ukrainian citizens. Ukrainians attempting to enter Russian territory often face interrogations, thorough border inspections, and official entry bans ranging from 20 to 50 years.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin commented on the issue affecting Smagulov and others. “The reasons can vary, and the country [Russia] has the full sovereign right not to disclose them,” he stated. The deputy minister added that Kazakhstan does not possess a list of its citizens who are banned from entering Russia.

He also noted that new entry regulations took effect in Russia in April, under which a digital profile is now created for every foreign citizen.

#Kazakhstan #Russia #border #Ukraine