Kazakhstan denies asylum to Russian officer facing desertion charges

A court in Kazakhstan has denied political asylum to a former Russian military officer accused of desertion, a charge that carries a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years in Russia.

The court rejected the asylum request filed by Yevgeny Korobov, thereby upholding an earlier decision by Kazakh authorities to deny him refugee status, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kazakh media.

The ruling supported the conclusion of Kazakhstan’s Department of Employment and Social Protection in Astana, which determined that Korobov does not face politically motivated persecution in Russia.

Korobov was represented in court by Artur Alkhastov, a lawyer with the Kazakhstan Bureau for Human Rights. Representatives of the French Embassy in Kazakhstan attended the hearing as observers.

Korobov served in Ukraine during the early months of the war, taking part in combat operations, including near Kyiv. He was wounded in action and later awarded Russia’s Medal “For Courage.” In late 2022, he appeared on the Russian state television program “Let Them Talk” on Channel One.

According to Korobov, after the program aired, authorities planned to redeploy him to the combat zone. Fearing a return to frontline fighting, he left Russia for Kazakhstan. Subsequently, Russian law enforcement authorities opened a criminal case against him on charges of desertion.

Under Russian law, desertion is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment.

By Vafa Guliyeva