Photo: voxpopuli.kz
Dina Tansari (Smailova), head of the NeMolchi.kz foundation and the subject of a criminal fraud case in Kazakhstan, has been granted international protection status in Montenegro. She announced the decision via Facebook (banned in Russia; owned by Meta, designated as extremist in Russia).
Her husband, Almat Mukhamedzhanov, was also granted the same status. The legal proceedings lasted more than two years. Under this status, the family now has the right to reside in Montenegro, access medical and legal services, work and study, and, eventually, apply for citizenship and the right to travel to other countries.
Tansari left Kazakhstan in 2023. At the time, the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that six criminal cases were being investigated against the human rights activist across several regions, including two cases of fraud. Authorities alleged that Smailova and her husband had collected donations from Kazakh citizens via a personal bank card, spending most of the money on personal needs while allocating only a small portion to the foundation’s activities.
Investigators also claimed that she spread false information about individuals, accusing them of violence without basis—allegations that were later refuted through formal investigations.
Since December 27, 2023, Smailova has been listed in Kazakhstan’s national database of wanted persons. The NeMolchi.kz foundation, which she leads, provides assistance to survivors of violence—primarily women and children—and operates through citizen donations. Smailova has repeatedly linked the criminal charges to her human rights work.
