In Kazakhstan, a deserter was detained from the Russian army

On April 23, Russian military investigators detained the ex-contractor of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Kamil Kasimov, who deserted from the army in Astana. This information was confirmed by Kasimov’s brother, who lived with him in Astana, and Kazakhstani human rights activist Arthur Alkhastov.

The Russian security forces took Kasimov in a civilian car to the territory of the Russian military unit in Priozersk (Karaganda region of Kazakhstan), where they are still held. According to them, in Russia, Kasimov was charged under Article 338 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“desertion”), which he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Kasimov fled to Kazakhstan in June 2023 so as not to participate in the war with Ukraine.

Human rights activists and the Kasimov family fears that he can illegally take him to Russia and condemn, although under the legislation of Kazakhstan, military crimes are not related to extradition articles. They do not exclude that pressure methods can apply to it in order to force to agree to leave Kazakhstan. There is no connection with Kasimov now.

In December 2023, the Russian military detained Dmitry Setrakov, who escaped from the war in Armenia. He was stolen to Russia.

In April, the Russian security forces also tried to kidnap the deserter Anatoly Shchetinin, but the country's authorities did not allow this to do this.