Kazakhstan May Start Mass Deportation Of Russians

• 10.03.2026, 16:30

A scandal erupted in the country.

Kazakhstan is investigating a major criminal case related to fake temporary residence permits (TRPs). The case is being handled by Kazakhstan's National Security Committee, and dozens of Russian citizens of conscription age are witnesses in the case, according to the "Word of Defense" project.

According to human rights activists, this investigation could lead to the expulsion of Russian emigrants who left the country because of the war. Since the end of February this year, interrogations have been conducted in groups - investigators call three or four people each. The investigation into the case of fake residence permits is being handled not by the migration police, but by special services. This may indicate the preparation of larger-scale measures, including deportations according to lists agreed with the Russian side in advance, writes Slovo Zaschita.

Formally, this is a non-political criminal case. Tens of thousands of Russian emigrants in Kazakhstan are still in a "gray" legal zone. The country recognizes only labor migration, and there are no mechanisms for granting political asylum to Russians. A temporary residence permit allows one to stay in Kazakhstan for up to a year, but in order to obtain it, employment and registration at the place of residence are required. A market of intermediaries offering fictitious documents has formed around this procedure. Many Russians use them.