Human rights defenders urged Astana not to extradite Movlaev to the Russian authorities.

The authorities of Kazakhstan must fulfill their obligations under international law and stop the extradition of Chechen native Mansur Movlaev and activist Yulia Emelyanova, as well as organize a corridor for them to a safe third country, stated in a collective appeal signed by 153 human rights defenders and organizations.

The collective appeal to the authorities of Kazakhstan lists 153 signatories - human rights defenders, public figures, and civil organizations. They urged not to extradite Chechen native Mansur Movlaev and activist Yulia Emelyanova to Russia, pointing out the risk of persecution and ill-treatment after extradition.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", residents and activists in various countries are holding actions in support of Chechen native Mansur Movlaev and activist Yulia Emelyanova, demanding that the authorities of Kazakhstan not extradite them to Russia. Thus, on September 27, a protest against the extradition of Movlaev and Emelyanova took place near the Kazakh consulate in New York.

153 signatories, including human rights defenders, activists, and organizations, sent a collective appeal to the authorities of Kazakhstan. In it, they stated that the criminal prosecution of Movlaev and Emelyanova is politically motivated and related to their activist and pacifist activities. They noted that after the rejection of their cassation appeals, the risk of their transfer to Russia has significantly increased. The appeal was published on September 28 by the Instagram*-public of the support group for Movlaev free_mansour_movlaev.

In the event of extradition, Movlaev and Emelyanova face long imprisonment and ill-treatment, the authors of the appeal believe. They also expressed concern that after being handed over to Russia, Movlaev and Emelyanova could face additional, more serious charges, including those related to treason.

The signatories referred to the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the transfer of a person to a state where they may face torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. "Immediately stop the extradition of Yulia Emelyanova and Mansur Movlaev; fulfill your obligations under international law; organize a diplomatic corridor to a safe third country," the appeal states.

Among the signatories are human rights defenders Lev Ponomarev*, Oleg Orlov*, as well as politician Maxim Reznik*, Karinna Moskalenko, and Elena Lukyanova*.

As of 09:40 Moscow time on September 29, there are no comments on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan regarding the collective appeal calling not to extradite Movlaev and Emelyanova to Russia.

Recall that Mansur Movlaev was detained by security forces in Chechnya in 2022 and was held in an illegal prison. He escaped from there in January 2023 and made it to Kyrgyzstan. In August 2023, security forces in Kyrgyzstan detained Movlaev, who was wanted in Russia for financing extremism. A court in Bishkek sentenced Movlaev to six months in a colony and subsequent deportation from the country. On November 20, 2023, Movlaev was released and left Kyrgyzstan on his own to avoid being sent back home.

In May 2025, Movlaev was detained in Kazakhstan and placed under extradition arrest. The Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan ruled to extradite him to Russian security forces. In February, the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan suspended the execution of the decision to extradite Movlaev until his asylum petition is finally considered. On September 10, it became known that the cassation court in Kazakhstan found no violations in the refusal to grant asylum to Chechen native Mansur Movlaev. Movlaev, held in a Kazakhstani pre-trial detention center, attempted suicide.

Materials on human rights violations in Chechnya, Kadyrov's attacks on the opposition, and his fight against dissent in the republic are published by "Caucasian Knot" on a special thematic page "Dissent in Chechnya".