Kazakhstan evacuates citizens from Iran via Azerbaijan, neighboring states

Amid a sharp escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries, Kazakhstan has begun evacuating its citizens through overland routes.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev announced the measures during a government briefing, as per Kazakh media.

According to Bakayev, a Flydubai flight operated yesterday for Kazakh citizens who had purchased tickets before February 28 but were unable to depart on March 1 and 2. Overall, the United Arab Emirates has closed its airspace. Many airlines suspended flights, but carriers were allowed to fulfil prior obligations to passengers, which made the flight possible.

The arrangement applied only to citizens with previously purchased tickets. Kazakh nationals stranded in transit zones without tickets, as well as those residing in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, are being evacuated through neighbouring countries.

“A number of Kazakh citizens who are in transit without tickets, as well as those residing in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, will be evacuated through two neighbouring states, as we reported yesterday. These are the Sultanate of Oman — today the first колонна of buses departed from Dubai with our citizens. By the end of the day, we plan to return 467 Kazakh citizens from the Sultanate of Oman to Kazakhstan,” he said.

A second route runs through Saudi Arabia. Citizens from Qatar are being transported by bus to Riyadh and then to Jeddah. From there, they will be flown home on flights operated by Kazakh airlines.

Separate efforts are underway regarding Iran. Citizens are being evacuated overland via Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Following talks between the Kazakh foreign minister and his counterparts, Turkmen authorities authorised border crossings. Eighteen Kazakh citizens who had been in the northern Iranian city of Gorgan have already been evacuated through Turkmen territory.

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry continues to coordinate evacuation efforts and is negotiating with neighbouring states to ensure the safe return of its citizens.

By Tamilla Hasanova