Person living in Atyrau sentenced to five years for involvement in Ukrainian conflict
In a recent development, a local resident was sentenced to 5 years in prison in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, under Article 172 of the Criminal Code for participating in armed conflicts on the territory of a foreign state. The man, who had served in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, had also sustained a shrapnel wound during one of the shellings and had participated in combat operations in Ukraine.
This sentencing comes amidst ongoing checks by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and the Committee for National Security (KNB) related to a call for Kazakhstani citizens to participate in a war. The KNB has also delivered a suspect with ties to international terrorists to Kazakhstan.
Since 2022, a total of 97 criminal cases have been opened in Kazakhstan for the participation of its citizens in combat operations abroad. While the specific laws regarding participation in armed conflicts on foreign soil and mercenary activities in Kazakhstan are not easily accessible, the country's diplomatic and security positions provide some insight.
Kazakhstan maintains a policy of neutrality and non-involvement in foreign armed conflicts, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states. It is closely allied with Russia but avoids direct military intervention abroad. Given these principles, it is likely that Kazakhstan has legal restrictions on citizens participating as mercenaries or joining armed conflicts legally unauthorized by the state.
To obtain precise details on the laws, one would need to examine Kazakhstan's criminal code or military law for clauses prohibiting mercenary activities or participation in foreign conflicts without government authorization. Legal frameworks often criminalize mercenary activities as offenses punishable by fines or imprisonment.
Kazakhstan is also likely to adhere to international humanitarian law norms, a sector in which national policies are coordinated and implemented, as seen with its engagement in international legal frameworks and cooperation with organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and international bodies.
In summary, while no direct legal text from Kazakhstan’s legislation is cited, Kazakhstan’s diplomatic and security positions strongly imply there are laws prohibiting unauthorized participation in foreign armed conflicts or mercenary activity, consistent with common international legal standards. For the precise statutory language and penalties, consulting Kazakhstan’s criminal or military codes or official government legal resources would be necessary.
[1] Diplomatic stance of Kazakhstan regarding Ukraine conflict [2] Kazakhstan's military involvement abroad [3] Kazakhstan's diplomatic relations with Russia [4] Kazakhstan's engagement with the International Committee of the Red Cross [5] Kazakhstan's participation in international legal frameworks
[1] Kazakhstan's diplomatic stance on the Ukraine conflict is one of neutrality and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states, as it avoids direct military intervention.
[2] Kazakhstan maintains a policy of non-involvement in foreign armed conflicts abroad, and it is likely that there are legal restrictions on citizens participating as mercenaries or joining armed conflicts not authorized by the state.
