Human rights activists helped secure Murtazov's flight to Armenia.

Zelimkhan Murtazov's brother thanked the human rights activists who helped secure permission for his departure from Kazakhstan and ensured his safe arrival in Armenia.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Zelimkhan Murtazov, a native of Chechnya who arrived in Astana in December, was forced to spend a long time in the airport's transit zone. Kazakhstan refused to consider his asylum application. According to his brother, Zelimkhan deserted from military service, so returning to Russia threatens him with imprisonment and torture. Kazakh authorities tried to force Murtazov to leave the transit zone voluntarily, but due to the lack of a passport, he could only fly to countries where the risk of extradition to Russia is high. Today it became known that Murtazov managed to leave Kazakhstan by flying to Armenia.

Zelimkhan Murtazov's arrival in Yerevan was prepared in advance by local human rights activists, while human rights activists in Kazakhstan and Europe simultaneously sought to have him allowed to leave the transit zone of Astana Airport, his brother, Turpal Murtazov, told the "Caucasian Knot."

According to a relative, Zelimkhan Murtazov arrived in Yerevan at night and was interrogated until almost the morning. He was released in the morning, and a local lawyer helped him find housing.

“Many people worked on the issue of his arrival in Yerevan: lawyers and human rights activists from Kazakhstan, human rights activists from Europe and Armenia. The Kazakh authorities granted permission for him to leave the country. We are grateful to everyone,” said Turpal.

Armenia, according to Turpal, turned out to be the safest country to which Zelimkhan was able to fly. Previously, Kazakh authorities offered Murtazov, who did not have a passport, a flight to Belarus or Kyrgyzstan; direct flights from Astana to Yerevan only opened on April 20.

“Armenia turned out, in our opinion, to be a safer, more appropriate country for him to fly to. That’s why we made this choice. Local human rights activists are also involved in this process and are providing us with assistance,” he said.

Russian citizens who have moved to Armenia periodically face search warrants and extradition demands. For example, on October 21, 2024, security forces in Yerevan detained Russian citizen Roman Shklover, who is suspected in Russia of publicly justifying terrorism. In Armenia, this act is not a crime, and detention for political reasons is a gross violation of human rights, stated human rights activist Artur Sakunts. Shklover was released on October 22.

On August 5, 2025, it became known that Russian authorities issued a request for the extradition of Roman Shklover to Russia. In May, Kazan activist Mark Serov, who lives in Georgia, was detained upon entering Armenia. He is wanted in his home country for vandalism motivated by political hatred. According to Sakunts, in recent years Armenia has not extradited activists persecuted in their home country for their political views to Russia.