Movlaev's defense has challenged the judge.
Lawyers for Chechen native Mansur Movlaev have demanded the examination of witnesses and the recusal of the judge who attempted to complete the consideration of his appeal against the denial of asylum in Kazakhstan in one session.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", the execution of the decision to extradite Chechen native Mansur Movlaev to Russian authorities was suspended by the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan until the final review of his asylum application. The UN representative in Kazakhstan was present at the session. Human rights defenders and activists considered interconnected the complaint filed by the Chechen native's defense to the UN Human Rights Committee and the decision of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan suspending the extradition process.
At the end of December 2025, the asylum review committee in Kazakhstan denied Mansur Movlaev refugee status. On January 30, it was reported that the Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan had ordered the extradition of Chechen native Mansur Movlaev to Russian security forces; his defense appealed the decision. On February 23, the UN Committee registered Movlaev's complaint and recommended that Kazakhstan refrain from extraditing him until the committee considers the complaint.
One of the lawyers for Chechen native Mansur Movlaev, who is currently seeking refugee status in Kazakhstan, has requested the recusal of the judge in the case challenging the asylum denial, lawyer Rena Kerimova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "The judge tried to conclude the case in one hearing. The lawyers objected, as there were witnesses who needed to be questioned. The judge wouldn't budge. Ultimately, lawyer Elena Zhigalenok demanded the judge's recusal," Kerimova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
She explained that another judge would now consider the judge's recusal. "Based on the results, a decision will be made on how long the trial will continue," the lawyer concluded.
In 2022, Movlaev was detained by security forces in Chechnya and held in an illegal prison. After escaping, he managed to reach Kyrgyzstan in January 2023. In August 2023, security forces in Kyrgyzstan detained Movlaev, who was wanted in Russia for financing extremist activity. A court in Bishkek sentenced Movlaev to six months in prison and subsequent deportation from the country. On November 20, 2023, Movlaev was released, but the decision to deport him remained in effect, and he voluntarily left Kyrgyzstan to avoid being sent home. In May 2025, Movlaev, who had been placed on the Shali District Police Department's wanted list in Chechnya, was detained in Kazakhstan and placed under extradition arrest.
Mansur Movlaev also reported the kidnapping of his relatives by security forces in Chechnya. "Two of my brothers, Zelimkhan and Khamzat, have been kidnapped. They are being held and tortured, in an attempt to somehow put pressure on me," he said.