Kazakhs sent by Russia to fight against Ukraine have asked to be returned home
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan has stated that it is taking steps to bring its citizens back from the combat zone in Ukraine.
This was announced on Wednesday, October 7, by Zhanbolat Usenov, an official representative of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
“Necessary measures are already being taken regarding the citizens who recorded video appeals on social media. Negotiations concerning their return to their homeland are underway,” Usenov said.
According to him, inquiries continue to come in via the hotline, and the information regarding each case is being verified.
Usenov noted that once the verification process is complete, the compiled list will be submitted to the Russian side.
Earlier, *Azattyk Asia* (a Radio Liberty project) reported on a video appeal from a group of young Kazakhs asking to be returned home. They stated that they had been deceived into being sent to the war against Ukraine, despite having come to Russia for work.
On October 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan stated that it was treating the situation “with the utmost seriousness.” Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi met with the Russian Chargé d’Affaires regarding the matter.
Additionally, the Kazakh ambassador was scheduled to meet shortly with leadership from the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense.
On September 29, the Ukrainian project “I Want to Live” (*Khochu Zhyt*) reported that at least 2,420 Kazakh citizens had signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense. Dozens of citizens of Kazakhstan and ethnic Kazakhs who fought in the ranks of the Russian occupation army are currently in Ukrainian captivity.