The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is “working through” the issue of issuing Russian citizenship to Askar Kubanychbek, a Kyrgyz citizen who fought in Ukraine, who was sentenced by a court in Bishkek to 10 years in prison under an article about Mercenary. It is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova.
“Yes, I can say that we received such an appeal and the issue is being worked out,” Zakharova said at a briefing, answering a question about granting Russian citizenship to Kubanychbek. Earlier, a 30-year-old Kyrgyzstani asked in an interview with Russia Today: “I ask you to give me a Russian passport and citizenship.”
The material of the pro-government TV channel said that the young man worked on TNT projects, including being an assistant operator during the filming of the series Univer, SashaTanya and Real Boys. However, last summer Kubanychbek went to fight as a volunteer. The reason for his decision was «a skeptical attitude towards Bandera and the Western regime.»
“When I found out that there are not enough volunteers who can fly drones, I thought about going. I am Kyrgyz by nationality, but I consider myself Russian. I know what the Ukrainian side has been doing there over the past eight years, and it hurt me very much, ”the Kyrgyzstani explained his position.
A few months later, in the fall of 2022, Kubanychbek left the service and left for Kyrgyzstan. According to him, the trip was connected with the illness of his father. About the detention of a citizen of the country with the initials «K.u.A.» employees of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (GKNB) became aware in January 2023.
According to the verdict, Kubanychbek joined the armed groups of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic in order to obtain Russian citizenship. The security forces found out that he was transporting mortar installations and ammunition to the front line in Soledar, and then was engaged in material support for the military in the LPR.
In court, the Kyrgyz man claimed that he had never participated in hostilities, but had spent all his time in the military registration and enlistment office. In addition, according to him, he was “only on the territory of the LPR.” Speaking to Russia Today staff, the young man added: “Yes, I told our court that my goal was to fight for Russia – and yes, I wanted to become a citizen and stay in the Russian Federation. That's what I said at the trial, and that's what it really is.”
“Mediazona. Central Asia” drew attention to the fact that the Criminal Code prohibits Kyrgyzstanis from participating in military conflicts of other states. Violation of the law provides for imprisonment of up to 15 years. Similar rules have been adopted in other countries of Central Asia. For example, in April, the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan reported on the initiation of 10 cases on the facts citizen participation countries in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.