Abayev mentioned that 10 out of 30 individuals are in prisoner camps controlled by Kurdish formations.
“More than 10 of our compatriots are located in the Kurdish-controlled camps of ‘Al-Hol’ and Roj in Syria, and they also do not intend to return to their homeland," the ambassador stated.
According to him, some Kazakhs plan to acquire Syrian citizenship and remain in the country permanently.
In 2019, Kazakhstan initiated a special humanitarian mission called “Jusan.” Its aim is to repatriate citizens from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq. Upon their return, all evacuees undergo a rehabilitation and adaptation process. For this purpose, special support centers have been established in Kazakhstan, where psychologists, religious leaders, and social workers assist them.
In the same year, a high-profile trial took place in the capital of Kazakhstan involving 14 Kazakhs who returned from Syria as part of the “Jusan” operation. They faced charges of participating in terrorist activities, recruitment, and propaganda of terrorism, as well as committing other serious crimes. The defendants received prison sentences ranging from 8 to 14 years.
In December 2024, significant political changes occurred in Syria – the regime of Bashar Assad collapsed. He fled the country and arrived in Moscow, where he was granted political asylum. Actual control over Syria shifted to Ahmed al-Sharaa, who represents the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” group. He previously led the “Nusra Front” – the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda (which is banned in Kazakhstan). Later, missing activists and opponents of the Assad family who disappeared 40 years ago were found in Syrian prisons.
As reported by “Kursiv,” al-Sharaa managed to reach an agreement with the leaders of armed groups for their disbandment and the creation of a unified national army. Preliminary data suggests that organizing the first elections following the change of power could take up to four years.
Since 2017, negotiations known as the Astana Process have been taking place in Astana. The latest round occurred in early November 2024. Delegations from the guarantor countries – Russia, Turkey, and Iran – participated, along with representatives from the Syrian government, opposition, and observers from the UN, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Following this, Russia, Iran, and Turkey agreed to hold another round of Astana negotiations in the first half of 2025. However, in January, the Turkish armed forces were put on alert in connection with a potential operation in Syria against the militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party.