Lyubov Rozhanska, a Ukrainian national, was detained on 1 October at Astana Airport upon her arrival from Istanbul — following a Russian extradition request. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the embassy had asked Kazakhstan not to grant this request; as of 3 October, there has been no publicly confirmed decision by a Kazakhstani court regarding her extradition.
Briefly about the main points
- Rozhanska was detained on 1 October at Astana Airport.
- The Foreign Ministry has confirmed Russia’s request for her extradition.
- The Ukrainian woman was being held in a remand centre in Astana as of 1–2 October.
- The consuls have received prior authorisation to visit the detainee.
What is known about the detention
Regarding the arrest Rozhanska’s Deutsche Welle reported, citing her lawyer Alexei Pryanishnikov and a lawyer in Astana Rizu Nurbayev. According to their reports, the woman was detained during a border check at the airport in the capital of Kazakhstan.
Lawyer Pryanishnikov told DW that the Russian request had been forwarded via the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that a Russian extradition request had been received.
According to her lawyer and a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of 1–2 October, Rozhanska was being held in a remand centre in Astana. As of 3 October, there is no public information regarding the Kazakh court’s decision on her continued detention or extradition.
What measures is Ukraine taking?
У Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine They stated that the embassy in Kazakhstan had approached the Kazakh authorities with a request not to grant Russia’s request for Rozhanska’s extradition. Ukrainian consular officials requested permission to visit the detainee and received preliminary consent. The diplomats are also in contact with her lawyers.
Family law and the defence’s case
According to the defence, Rozhanska travelled to Astana to collect her grandson, who was to be handed over to his father in Ukraine. These circumstances were reported by her lawyer in a statement to DW and have not been independently verified by the Kazakhstani authorities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that, in March 2025, the Supreme Court of Ukraine determined that the boy’s place of residence was Odessa — the place where his father lives. However, this decision does not in itself determine the outcome of the extradition proceedings in Kazakhstan.
According to her lawyers, criminal proceedings have been underway in Russia against Rozhanska since 2023 in connection with the alleged abduction or attempted abduction of a child. Her lawyer stated that Rozhanska was unaware of these proceedings; the circumstances and evidence in the Russian case have not been publicly established.
