Kazakhstan’s intelligence agency has opened a major criminal case targeting Russians living in the country. Dozens of draft-age Russian men have already been called in for questioning, and human rights defenders warn the investigation could be a cover for a large-scale deportation campaign coordinated with Moscow. The crackdown comes amid a narrowing of emigration options for Russians who fled their country after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. To learn more about the challenges facing Russians who seek refuge abroad, Meduza spoke with Anastasia Burakova, the founder of the Ark Project.
Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee is pursuing a major criminal case that could lead to the deportation of many Russians who took refuge in the country after Moscow launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, according to the human rights group Slovo Zashchite.
Human rights defenders told Slovo Zashchite that “dozens of draft-age Russian men” are listed as witnesses in the case, which centers on fraudulent temporary residence permits. Sources said the investigation began in late February 2026, with authorities reportedly questioning three to four people at a time.
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Temporary residence permits, which allow holders to stay in Kazakhstan for up to one year, require formal employment and registration. For some time, Kazakhstan had taken a relatively lenient approach toward fake permits, but migration rules have recently tightened, Slovo Zashchite reports.
“Because this case is being handled by the National Security Committee rather than the migration police, it could signal preparations for a mass deportation coordinated with Russia,” the project’s sources suggested.
A dangerous world
Kazakhstan’s residence permit case comes amid a broader global tightening of migration rules, including for Russians who left the country after 2022. Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s wartime crackdown on dissent has begun to reach beyond Russia’s borders.
Russians seeking safety abroad can travel to four countries using only their domestic ID cards: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. However, as Ark Project founder Anastasia Burakova told Meduza, these destinations aren’t necessarily safe.
Although there have been no documented extraditions from Armenia, authorities there have temporarily detained Russian citizens at Moscow’s request. In at least one known case, Russian soldiers abducted a deserter living in Armenia.
Kazakhstan was a relatively safe temporary hub for Russians fleeing political persecution until 2026. However, this is no longer the case. Aside from the ongoing criminal case targeting fraudulent permits, the country began complying with Russian extradition requests at the start of the year.
Kyrgyzstan and Belarus also aren’t viable options for those fleeing Russia, as both countries cooperate closely with the Russian security services.
Other countries allow Russians visa-free entry if they hold a passport. The most popular among them are Serbia, Georgia, Turkey, Montenegro, and Argentina. Burakova says these countries are generally safer than destinations in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, or any authoritarian states, though each carries its own risks.
- In Serbia, there have been no documented cases of authorities directly responding to politically motivated extradition requests from Moscow. But about two dozen Russians have been banned from the country as alleged “national security threats.” According to Burakova, those most at risk are public speakers, protest organizers, volunteers with anti-war organizations, and Russians who support local protest movements.
- In Georgia, the domestic political situation has deteriorated in recent years, with the government adopting repressive legislation that mimics Russia’s own. As a result, the country has become less accommodating to Russian migrants. Migration rules have tightened, and deportations for overstaying visas or supporting local protests have become more frequent.
- In Turkey, Russian authorities have become more adept in recent years at using informal channels to target citizens abroad. While the Ark Project still views the country as suitable for temporary stays, Burakova advises Russians who believe they may be at risk of persecution to avoid contact with Russian institutions and refrain from posting anything on social media that could reveal their location.
- Montenegro remains relatively safe for Russians abroad, according to the Ark Project, but it’s not a good option for rapid or emergency relocation, as the country plans to abolish visa-free travel for citizens of certain countries, including Russia.
- The Ark Project has not recorded cases of Argentina responding to Russian extradition requests outside the Interpol system, which has safeguards against political persecution. However, it notes that people facing certain types of criminal charges in Russia could be denied entry. One relevant category is terrorism-related offenses; in Russia, such charges can sometimes be brought over something as simple as comments made online.
“Of course, the ideal option for [Russians] in high-risk groups is to go to a democratic country with a stable legal system and independent courts,” Burakova writes. “But that isn’t always possible.”
Most Western countries have been tightening policies toward so-called irregular migration, including asylum processes. For this reason, the Ark Project recommends that Russians who do not face politically motivated criminal charges or documented persecution in Russia pursue other pathways to legal status abroad.
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