Hundreds of Russians have fled throughout the border with Kazakhstan, forming lengthy strains at border crossings following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement final week of a “partial mobilization.”

This week, amid a go to to the southern Turkestan area, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged the nation to welcome the fleeing Russians. 

“In latest days, many individuals from Russia have been coming to us. Most of them are pressured to go away due to the present hopeless state of affairs,” he mentioned, after stressing Kazakhstan’s neutrality in worldwide boards, just like the U.N. and the primacy of nationwide unity and territorial integrity.

“We should care for them and guarantee their security. It is a political and humanitarian situation,” he mentioned of the arrival Russians. He did add that “guests from overseas” could be assisted, “however they won’t obtain any preferences.” Tokayev pressured the significance of adhering to the legislation.

The identical day, Kazakhstan’s Inside Affairs Ministry put out a press launch reminding Kazakh hosts of the need to register international guests with the ministry, whether or not staying at a hostel, resort or residences.

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Minister of Inside Affairs Marat Akhmetzhanov appeared to convey in feedback to RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service that Kazakhstan wouldn’t extradite Russian draft dodgers. He pressured that extraditions are tied to legal instances. “If they’re on the lookout for navy registration and enlistment workplaces, then this isn’t a authorized foundation for his or her extradition,” he mentioned.

Russian passport holders can enter Kazakhstan with out a visa for 90 days, which makes it a super emergency exist for younger males afraid of being drafted into the Russian navy amid the warfare in Ukraine. The Inside Affairs Ministry final week famous that in 2022 1.66 million Russian residents entered the nation and 1.64 million Russian residents left, indicating that almost all Russians who arrived in Kazakhstan do not stay there.

The present circulate, nonetheless, could also be completely different and raises appreciable points from the home labor market and rental market issues to political relations with Russia. Since September 21, the Inside Affairs Ministry mentioned, 98,000 Russians had entered Kazakhstan and two-thirds of that quantity had already departed. Round 8,000 non-residents had been issued particular person identification numbers (IINs) upon registration within the nation.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Labor and Social Safety of the Inhabitants Tamara Duysenova advised media on September 26 that the inflow of Russians wouldn’t have an effect on Kazakhstan’s labor market. 

Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov instructed the federal government to coordinate the registration of arriving Russians and resolve labor points throughout the Eurasian Financial Union framework. He additionally famous rising rental costs and pressured that the federal government’s precedence is Kazakh residents.

Tokayev’s assertion on September 27 pressured calm amid chaotic stories of desperation amongst Russians coming into Kazakhstan.

“Generally, in such a tough state of affairs, one should to begin with present humanity, persistence, and group. Now we have no disaster, no panic. The federal government should do its job,” Tokayev mentioned.

The mobilization in Russia, and the inflow of Russians into Kazakhstan, additional escalates tensions within the area. Kazakhstan has walked a cautious diplomatic line, sustaining a level of neutrality with regard to the Ukraine warfare that appears more and more untenable. Adhering to its acknowledged place — hewing tightly to the themes of territorial integrity and sovereignty with out essentially criticizing Russia for invading Ukraine — has more and more put Astana at odds with Moscow.

In Tokayev’s remarks in Turkestan this week, he referred to a “large warfare” happening proper subsequent to Kazakhstan. That may solely be a reference to Ukraine, although he didn’t immediately point out Ukraine in his remarks.

It’s value noting that some Ukrainians beforehand additionally fled to Kazakhstan. As RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported this week, whereas most Ukrainians who’ve fled the nation due to the warfare have traveled to neighboring states — like Poland — some have made the journey to Kazakhstan, both as a result of they’re initially from Kazakhstan or have household or buddies within the nation. The Kazakhstan Bureau for Human Rights advised RFE/RL that 228 Ukrainians have been granted asylum seeker standing, with most purposes occurring earlier within the yr because the warfare started. However asylum seeker standing just isn’t a assure of accomplishing refugee standing, so there’s a way of limbo for many who have arrived. Some intend to remain, others to return when the warfare is over. 

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The inflow of Russians may stoke tensions, with some Kazakhs and Kyrgyz interviewed lower than sympathetic towards Russians who didn’t flee or protest when Russia invaded Ukraine, however have solely fled once they is perhaps pulled into the battle themselves.