Kazakhstan Says It Is Negotiating the Return of Citizens Who Appealed From Russia's Army

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement posted by its spokesperson in Russia on Telegram that it is continuing to work on appeals from Kazakhstani citizens who were lured into Russia's army and ended up in the combat zone, and that negotiations are under way on returning the citizens who recorded video appeals on social media. "Necessary measures" are already being taken in their cases, the ministry said.

The ministry said appeals continue to arrive on its hotline and that the information in each is checked. Once the checks are complete, it said, the compiled list will be sent to the Russian side. It added that it maintains "constant interaction" with Russia on the issue "at various levels." The statement gives no number of citizens, does not say how many have appealed, and does not name any of them.

See also: A Kazakhstani took a factory job in Russia and ended up in a convoy to the frontline

Hundreds of Requests Already Filed in Ukraine

The statement comes as families are also turning to Ukraine for answers. Ukraine's "I Want to Find" project, which helps relatives search for Russian-army servicemen in Ukraine, said it had received 1,019 requests about missing Kazakhstani citizens as of the end of August 2026 - the most of any country.

A similar process has played out elsewhere: after the Kremlin pledged in September to compile a list of Indian citizens in its army and send them home, India reported in October that around 140 of its recruited nationals had been discharged while 55 others were still being traced.

A Safe Way Out

Kazakhstanis and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield. See our FAQ to find out more details.