Vienna, August 8, 2025 – Freedom For Eurasia (FFE) expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation of the recent decision by the Austrian Federal Administrative Court regarding the asylum case of Pavel Gekkiev (also known as Takhir Shurukov) and his family. The court’s decision to dismiss their appeals for international protection and extend Mr. Gekkiev’s entry ban to three years is a grave miscarriage of justice.
Gekkiev family
Based on available documentation, including the court’s reasoning, we believe this ruling fails to adequately consider the serious risks Mr. Gekkiev and his family face upon return to Kazakhstan and Russia, respectively. The court’s dismissal of concerns regarding religious persecution in Kazakhstan and the potential for ill-treatment or persecution in Russia is deeply troubling. The court’s disregard for appeals from human rights organizations describing the desperate human rights situation, violation of religious freedom and abuse of extremist legislation in Kazakhstan and the assessment of religiously motivated persecution provided in the Gekkiev case by experts specializing in religious movements and repressions in Russia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus raises serious questions about the impartiality and thoroughness of the judicial review process and casts doubt on the court’s commitment to upholding international human rights standards.
Specifically, FFE is concerned that:
- The court disregarded credible evidence presented regarding the potential for religious persecution Mr. Gekkiev may face in Kazakhstan, given his history and profile.
- The court downplayed the risks to Mr. Gekkiev’s spouse, Zhanara Karymova, and their children upon return to Russia, despite the well-documented repression of dissent and persecution of individuals with ties to those deemed “enemies of the state.”
- The court’s decision to effectively separate the Gekkiev family, with the potential of sending his wife to Russia and him to Kazakhstan, fundamentally violates the right to family life as protected under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the principle of family unity enshrined in Austrian national law governing asylum procedures.
- The extended entry ban on Mr. Gekkiev disproportionately punishes him and separates him from his family, further compounding the injustice.
FFE believes that this decision sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the principles of international law regarding the protection of refugees and asylum seekers. We urge the Austrian government to reconsider this ruling and uphold its obligations to protect individuals fleeing persecution.
We call upon the Austrian government to:
- Thoroughly review the Gekkiev case, taking into account all available evidence and international human rights standards.
- Ensure that Mr. Gekkiev and his family are not deported to countries where they face a real risk of persecution or ill-treatment.
- Guarantee fair and impartial asylum procedures for all individuals seeking protection in Austria.
Freedom For Eurasia remains committed to advocating for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and will continue to monitor this case closely.
