A group of citizens of Kazakhstan have recorded a video appeal asking for help after, according to them, instead of working as security guards in Russia, they were offered to go to war in Ukraine. According to the young men, they were threatened with 15 years of imprisonment for refusing.
HOW THE KAZAKHSTANIS ENDED UP IN RUSSIA
According to Ulysmedia.kz, one of the participants in the appeal was Ainabek Keldibek from Shymkent, born in 2006. In June he returned from compulsory military service, and on 27 August he went to Russia to earn money through a security agency.
According to Ainabek's sister, the young man was promised work guarding schools and kindergartens. However, after arriving, he was taken to a military enlistment office and offered to sign documents.
Ainabek said that he understands Russian poorly and signed the papers without understanding their content. According to him, he was subsequently told that he must go to war in Ukraine.
WHAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE STATED
In the video appeal, the Kazakhstanis claim that they faced coercion to take part in combat operations. According to them, they were given an ultimatum: go to the front or receive 15 years in prison.
Now, according to information from relatives, Ainabek is in the area of Luhansk. His sister said that the young people are to be sent to the front on 3 October.
The participants in the appeal are asking for help from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, ministers, MPs and other citizens of the country.
WHAT THE KAZAKHSTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY REPLIED
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported that it had sent a diplomatic note to the Russian side. The ministry continues work on this issue and promises to provide additional information about the results.
CONTEXT
Earlier, during an official visit to Germany, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as about relations with Vladimir Putin. The president explained that he is not calling for an immediate end to the war, since he considers such a scenario unrealistic under the current conditions. Instead, he proposed halting the fighting in order to create conditions for a diplomatic settlement.
Later, Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov commented on Tokayev's proposal.