16:51, 21 April 2026

A native of Chechnya, Zelimkhan Murtazov, was able to leave Kazakhstan.

After 116 days in the transit zone of Astana airport, Zelimkhan Murtazov, a Chechen native who deserted, was able to leave Kazakhstan. According to his brother, Murtazov managed to fly to Armenia.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", Zelimkhan Murtazov, a Chechen native who arrived in Astana in December, was forced to spend a long time staying in the airport's transit zone; Kazakhstan refused to consider his asylum request. According to his brother, Zelimkhan deserted from military service, so returning to Russia threatens him with imprisonment and torture. Kazakh authorities tried to get Murtazov to leave the transit zone on his own, but due to the lack of a passport, he could only fly to countries where there is a high risk of extradition to Russia.

Zelimkhan Murtazov told the "Caucasian Knot" that he went to the war zone in Ukraine to protect his brothers, as Chechnya required only one person from the family to sign a contract. According to Murtazov, his three-year contract was extended without his consent, and attempts were made to coerce his other brothers into signing contracts as well.

Human rights activist Roza Dunaeva reported today that Zelimkhan Murtazov had been released. Murtazov left Kazakhstan on April 20, after spending more than 100 days at the airport, she noted.

“116 days in the transit zone of Astana Airport is an ordeal few can imagine. But he endured; he didn't break. We hoped and begged Kazakhstan to grant him asylum, but unfortunately, this did not happen. However, he is now free, and this is truly good news,” Dunaeva wrote on her Facebook page*.

Zelimkhan's brother, Turpal, told reporters that the man was able to fly to Armenia after direct flights between Astana and Yerevan launched on April 20. Border guards in Armenia detained the Chechen native for several hours but then allowed him into the country.

"I think it's clear how Zelimkhan is feeling after four months in transit. He says he's getting used to normal life, sitting in the sun, joking about taking vitamin D," Vot Tak quotes Turpal as saying.

According to his brother, Zelimkhan Murtazov is not yet ready to publicly discuss his future plans. Turpal noted that he doesn't consider Armenia a completely safe country for Chechens who fled persecution in their homeland.

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Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/422628