Russian Evgeny Nakaznenko was unable to obtain refugee status in Kazakhstan.

“Firstly, Evgeny Nakaznenko is our former compatriot — he grew up in the East Kazakhstan region. Secondly, he is half Ukrainian. We were able to document this. Among other Russians whose cases I handled — Evgeny Baltatarov, Aikhal Ammosov, Natalia Narskaya, none were Ukrainian,” says Murat Adam.

However, these arguments did not influence the commission's decision. Nakaznenko was denied with the wording:

“The case does not meet the criteria for determining refugee status.”

From Murat Adam's perspective, there were no grounds for the refusal.

“Among the reasons for which asylum can be denied is direct involvement in terrorist activities. However, a criminal case was initiated against Evgeny Nakaznenko in the Russian Federation under the article 'justification of terrorism.' But 'justification of terrorism' and committing terrorist acts are not the same thing,” explains the lawyer.

Adam also mentioned that his client was stripped of his residency permit in Kazakhstan due to the criminal case initiated by Russian law enforcement agencies. This was revealed in a response the lawyer received from the East Kazakhstan police department.

Currently, Evgeny Nakaznenko remains in the Almaty detention center under extradition arrest. According to Murat Adam, they plan to appeal the commission's decision in court.

Evgeny Nakaznenko, known in Kazakhstan as the author of a language school, was detained on September 17 at Almaty airport while he was preparing to fly to Turkey. A criminal case was opened against him in Russia due to videos online in which he spoke out sharply against the war in Ukraine. Nakaznenko is not the first Russian anti-war activist who has attempted to obtain refugee status. However, none of them have been granted asylum in Kazakhstan.

Besides Nakaznenko, another anti-war activist, 18-year-old Pavel Vladimirov, is currently in the Almaty detention facility.