Activists in Europe have called for Movlaev and Murtazov not to be extradited to Russia.

Chechen activists in Vienna held a picket outside the Kazakh embassy, ​​demanding that the decision to extradite Mansur Movlayev to Russia be overturned and that protection be provided to Zelimkhan Murtazov, a deserter from Chechnya. The protesters appealed to the President of Kazakhstan, urging him to consider the potential consequences for the lives, health, and safety of refugees from Chechnya.

As reported by Kavkazsky Uzel, Zelimkhan Murtazov went to the North Caucasus Military District to protect his brothers, as Chechnya required that one member of the family sign a contract. However, his three-year contract was extended without his consent, and attempts were made to coerce the other brothers to sign contracts as well. Murtazov has been in the transit zone of Astana Airport for over 45 days and hopes to be sent to a third country. Kazakh authorities are seeking to force Murtazov to leave the transit zone voluntarily. However, due to the lack of a passport, he can only fly to countries where he faces a high risk of extradition to Russia, his brother said, adding that he has sought assistance from human rights organizations.

On February 11, Chechen activists held a picket outside the Kazakh embassy in Vienna, protesting the decision to extradite Mansur Movlayev to Russia. They also spoke in support of Zelimkhan Murtazov, who has been in the transit zone of Astana Airport for two months now.

Human rights activist Roza Dunaeva posted a video of the protest on her Facebook page*, and she also addressed the crowd in Russian.

"Appeal to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Presidential Administration, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan, and the leadership of the Border Service. We have gathered here today to express our civic position in connection with the issue of the extradition of Movlayev and Murtazov from the Republic of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has always positioned itself as a state that respects the norms of international law, the principles of humanism, justice, and the protection of human rights. These values ​​are enshrined in the constitution and international obligations," said those gathered outside the Kazakh embassy.

In connection with the extradition issue under consideration, activists called for maximum transparency and legality in all procedures, consideration of international human rights standards, and a decision to Based on the principles of humanity, justice, and the rule of law.

"We are convinced that any decisions must be made taking into account not only formal legal grounds, but also the potential consequences for the lives, health, and safety of Mansur Movlayev and Zelimkhan Murtazov. We ask the Presidential Administration to carefully consider the appeal of citizens and human rights organizations. We appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Border Services to act strictly within the law and the international obligations of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We believe that Kazakhstan will remain a state that makes balanced and responsible decisions, guided by rights and human values," the participants concluded.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan ordered the extradition of Chechen native Mansur Movlayev to Russian security forces. The court has not yet considered the appeal against the denial of refugee status for Movlaev, his lawyers noted. In late December 2025, the asylum review commission in Kazakhstan denied Mansur Movlaev refugee status. This decision was appealed, and Movlaev's defense team also submitted appeals to the relevant UN bodies requesting a stay of his extradition to Russia. Movlaev was born in 1995 in Shali. He told his lawyers that while studying at university, he helped the Chechen opposition movement "Adat" (an organization recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) with information about people abducted by Kadyrov's men. "He was persecuted for this active position," Rena Kerimova reported Movlaev's words to Kursiv Media.

In 2022, Movlaev was detained by security forces in Chechnya and held in an illegal prison. After escaping, he managed to reach Kyrgyzstan in January 2023. In August 2023, security forces in Kyrgyzstan detained Movlaev, who was wanted in Russia for financing extremist activity. A court in Bishkek sentenced Movlaev to six months in prison and subsequent deportation from the country. On November 20, 2023, Movlaev was released, but the decision to deport him remained in effect, and he voluntarily left Kyrgyzstan to avoid being sent home.

In October 2024, Mansur Movlaev reported the kidnapping of his relatives by security forces in Chechnya. "Two of my brothers, Zelimkhan and Khamzat, have been kidnapped. They are being held and tortured, in an attempt to put pressure on me," he said in a published video.

Caucasian Knot publishes materials about human rights violations in Chechnya, Kadyrov's attacks on the opposition, and his fight against dissent in the republic on the thematic page "Dissent in Chechnya".