Kazakh authorities have denied entry to Zelimkhan, a Chechen native who fled Russia to escape forced conscription. He has been held in the airport transit zone for a month, Kavkaz.Realii reports.

Kazakhstan's border service cited "national security interests" for the denial, without providing any details. Human rights activists accuse the Kazakh authorities of a perfunctory approach to reviewing Zelimkhan's asylum application, pointing out that the denial was issued just ten days after he submitted his application. They demand that Kazakhstan comply with its international obligations, immediately release Zelimkhan, and conduct a full review of his asylum case.

In January, Anzor Chergizov's funeral was held in Chechnya. He was sent to fight in Ukraine from a penal colony, presumably forcibly. It is known that after the first Chechen war, Chergizov attempted to emigrate to Kazakhstan, but was extradited to Russia and subsequently sentenced to a lengthy prison term. His relatives believe the charges against him were fabricated.