Rights defenders treat Kazakhstan as unsafe country for Chechen Elza Soltaeva

It is difficult to obtain refugee status in Kazakhstan; and although Elza Soltaeva has every reason to ask for it, local state bodies are closely cooperating with Russia; while the large local Vainakh Diaspora is expanding chances for Elza’s relatives to find her.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 5, Elza Soltaeva, a native of Chechnya, who fled domestic violence, was detained in Kazakhstan. She claimed that her relatives were persecuting her, and she feared for her life. The police released Soltaeva and helped her in obtaining a shelter. However, human rights defenders are sure that Elza is in danger.

It is risky for Soltaeva to stay in Kazakhstan for a long time; her extradition to Russia from this country is not excluded, Svetlana Anokhina, a rights defender, believes. "The border with Russia is too long; they are too close to the Russian border both in Kazakhstan; and in general Kazakhstan, in my opinion, is looking towards Russia. On the other hand, there is a huge Vainakh Diaspora there," she has listed the risk factors.

Svetlana Anokhina is sure that the publicity in Elza's case has helped to free her. In Svetlana’s opinion, Elza may be placed into a crisis centre in Kazakhstan, but it is difficult to say whether she will be granted asylum in this country.

"She still has to reach Europe. Elza, like most Chechen women, has no chances to receive her own Russian foreign passport," Ms Anokhina has added.

Katerina Neroznikova, the coordinator of the "Marem" Movement, has found it difficult to say whether the police in Kazakhstan can cooperate with the Russian police outside of legal procedures.

"In our cases, when young women from Northern Caucasus ended up at police stations inside Russia, they were handed over to their relatives by Russian employees," she has explained.

In Katerina’s opinion, the safety issue of a victim of domestic violence can be resolved at the UN level.

Dinara Smailova, the head of the Kazakhstani human rights movement "Don't Be Silent", has reported that Elza is moving from city to city. She is accompanied by policemen; and this, according to the Dinara’s story, is a sign that Soltaeva's relatives had contacted local law enforcement bodies.

According to Dinara Smailova, they had options for hiding Soltaeva, but none of them were treated as safe enough. She also doubts about the efficiency of appealing to UN structures. "There were many cases, when the UN gave recommendations, but they were ignored in Kazakhstan," Dinara has complained, emphasizing that Kazakhstan is closely cooperating with Russia. "We are very well aware that if Elza ends up in the hands of her relatives in Russia, in Chechnya, she will die," Dinara Smailova has concluded.