Russia-Ukraine war: Russian officer detained in Kazakhstan may be deported, says family

A Russian military officer who has opposed the ongoing war in Ukraine has been detained in Kazakhstan after illegally crossing into the neighboring country. The family of the officer said that he may be deported as authorities in Kazakhstan are faced with the question of whether or not to send him back.

Russian army officer Major Zhilin was barred from leaving the country and illegally crossed into Kazakhstan back in September when he was faced with the likely possibility that he would be sent to Ukraine, his wife told Reuters.

Zhilin was detained and tried for illegal entry by Zakakh authorities in Semey. Zhilin, who is a communications specialist in the Russian military, was given a six-month suspended sentence and was ordered to be deported back to Russia.

Zhilin’s wife, Yekaterina, and their two children went to Kazakhstan legally.

“As someone who disagrees with the actions of the Russian leadership with regards to Ukraine, I could not legally leave Russia even if I had resigned from military service because I am barred from doing so as a person who has access to classified information,” said Zhilin, according to Yekaterina.

Yekaterina showed Reuters the Kazakh police document stating that they arrested and detained Zhilin under the suspicion that Zhilin may have violated Russian law. The filing cited the Russian criminal code on desertion and illegally crossing the border the two countries share. Kazakhstan has also denied Zhilin’s appeal for refugee status.

Kazakhstan does not support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has stopped short of alienating Russia.

In an attempt to avoid deportation, Zhilin sought to get an appointment at the Canadian consulate in Astana and tried to travel to Armenia but was detained at the airport. Zhilin is currently waiting for a court decision on whether to extend his deportation.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit in the United Kingdom against the Wagner mercenary group may help Ukrainians seek reparations for alleged crimes committed since Russia’s invasion, according to the lawyer whose firm filed the suit.

The McCue Jury and Partners’ Jason McCue said the suit was filed at the UK’s High Court last month on behalf of the victims of the Russian mercenary group and would target what Kyiv says are the group’s global assets.