Kazakistan Rus savaş karşıtları için güvenli değil; peki neden kalıyorlar?

Kazakhstan is no longer safe for anti-war Russians. So why are so many still staying?

Kazakhstan is one of the most popular destinations for anti-war Russians who have left the country. In the first weeks after the mobilization, more than 400,000 people arrived here from Russia. The main reasons: Russians can enter the country without an international passport, Russian is widely understood, and it’s fairly easy to legalize one’s status. In 2026, however, Kazakhstan turned into a dangerous country for Russian migrants in the span of a single month. Kazakh authorities regularly detain Russians and sometimes extradite them at Russia’s request. At the same time, the country has made it harder to obtain a residence permit, and throughout 2026 Russians have been called in for questioning as part of a criminal case over forged temporary residence permits. Kazakhstan as a whole is becoming a more authoritarian state: in July, following Russia’s example, officials reset Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s presidential term count, and independent journalists are increasingly facing prosecution in the country. Still, a large number of Russians who arrived in 2022 — as many as 80,000 — continue to live in Kazakhstan. Meduza spoke with five of them about life in Kazakhstan and why they haven’t left despite the risks.