Kazakhstan is no longer safe for anti-war Russians. So why are so many still staying?

Kazakhstan is one of the most popular destinations for anti-war Russians who have left the country.

In the first weeks after the mobilization, more than 400,000 people arrived here from Russia.

The main reasons: Russians can enter the country without an international passport, Russian is widely understood, and it’s fairly easy to legalize one’s status.

In 2026, however, Kazakhstan turned into a dangerous country for Russian migrants in the span of a single month.

Kazakh authorities regularly detain Russians and sometimes extradite them at Russia’s request.

At the same time, the country has made it harder to obtain a residence permit, and throughout 2026 Russians have been called in for questioning as part of a criminal case over forged temporary residence permits.

Kazakhstan as a whole is becoming a more authoritarian state: in July, following Russia’s example, officials reset Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s presidential term count, and independent journalists are increasingly facing prosecution in the country.

Still, a large number of Russians who arrived in 2022 — as many as 80,000 — continue to live in Kazakhstan.

Meduza spoke with five of them about life in Kazakhstan and why they haven’t left despite the risks.