Chechen activist detained in Almaty faces extradition to Russia

Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstaan has ordered the extradition of Chechen activist Mansur Movlaev to Russia within the next 30 days.

The decision was announced on January 29 by human rights defender Murat Adam, ASTRA Telegram channel reports.

Movlaev was denied asylum in Kazakhstan in late December 2025, a ruling that is currently being appealed in court. He remains in pre-trial detention in Almaty while the legal proceedings continue.

Supporters of Movlaev have condemned the extradition order as unlawful, warning that his return to Russia would place his life in grave danger. They have stated that he would face a “100 percent likelihood” of being killed if extradited. Human rights advocates have also expressed deep skepticism toward assurances from Russian authorities that Movlaev would not be subjected to torture.

Russian law enforcement has placed Movlaev on a wanted list in connection with an alleged extremism financing case. The charge stems from a money transfer that the Chechen opposition movement Adat claims was orchestrated by security forces themselves.

Movlaev previously served a two-year sentence in a Russian penal colony on drug-related charges, which he says were fabricated to pressure him over his political activism. Following his release in 2022, he was reportedly abducted and tortured in an unofficial detention facility, according to the 1ADAT Telegram channel. In 2023, Movlaev managed to flee to Kyrgyzstan. He was later detained in Kazakhstan in May 2025 at Russia’s request.

By Vafa Guliyeva