The suspension of the extradition is related to the consideration of Emelyanova's request for refugee status. The next hearing in her case is scheduled for February 27.
Emelyanova worked at the St. Petersburg headquarters of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. In 2021, a criminal case was initiated against her in Russia on charges of theft. The investigation claimed that she allegedly stole a phone from a taxi driver in St. Petersburg; however, the activist herself declared her innocence and asserted that the case was fabricated. After the case reached court, Emelyanova left the country.
On August 31 of last year, she was detained at Almaty airport while in transit from Georgia to Vietnam. The detention occurred because she had been placed on an international wanted list by Russia. On February 11, it became known that Kazakhstan intended to extradite her to the Russian Federation. Emelyanova is currently in a detention center in Almaty.
Additionally, the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan recently froze the decision to extradite Chechen activist Mansur Movlaev to Russia, keeping him in custody for another month while considering his request for refugee status.
