There are still more than 30 citizens of Kazakhstan in Syria who are part of various groups, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Russia Dauren Abayev told RIA Novosti.

"More than 30 Kazakhstanis continue to be part of separate groups in Syria. Most of them do not intend to return to their homeland. Some plan to obtain Syrian citizenship and stay there permanently," Abayev said.

In addition, there are more than 10 Kazakh women in prison camps controlled by Kurdish forces. As Abayev noted, they also do not express a desire to return to Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Russia Dauren Abayev said the country has no reason to worry about the possible return of militants from Syria, since this issue is under the control of the special services.

According to him, cases of militants returning are isolated and are carefully monitored by the competent authorities. Abayev recalled that in 2019-2021, the humanitarian operation "Zhusan" was carried out, within the framework of which 607 citizens of Kazakhstan, including women and children, were returned to their homeland. In addition, 74 female citizens returned on their own.

"Upon arrival in the republic, 53 people were brought to criminal responsibility and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for participating in terrorist activities or propaganda of terrorism. The rest, against whom there were no grounds for initiating criminal cases, underwent rehabilitation measures," Abayev noted.

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Cover: Photo — RIA Novosti