Kazakhstan shares experience of repatriation of citizens from the Middle East

The Committee on Religious Affairs of the IIOR of the Republic of Kazakhstan took part in an online conference to consider the urgent problems of returned citizens from the Middle East (Syria and Iraq).

The event was held as part of the execution of the instructions of the Head of State following the results of participation in the 56th Munich Security Conference in February last year (in cooperation with the ICRC, to work out the holding of a regional meeting of international experts and representatives of interested state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan to exchange experience on the return of citizens from combat zones. actions).

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the regional office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event was held with the participation of representatives of government agencies and NGOs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey and the United States.
The participants discussed the key issues and problems of repatriated citizens from the Middle East (Syria and Iraq), as well as aspects related to the mental and psychosocial needs of the repatriates. The Kazakhstani side presented the experience of repatriation and rehabilitation of those returned from the operation "Zhusan" to the participants.

As a result of the conference, the parties came to a common conclusion about the need for socio-economic support and legal assistance to repatriated citizens, discussed the importance of constant dialogue at all levels in order to find an optimal approach to solving problems related to the return of foreign fighters and their families.