List of Kazakhstani detainees at Guantanamo Bay

The United States Department of Defense confirms that it has detained four Kazakh nationals at Guantanamo Bay. Since the detention facility began operations in January 2002, a total of 778 individuals have been held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp located in Cuba. The detainee count reached its highest point, roughly 660, in 2004 but had decreased to around 285 by January 2008. Following the United States Supreme Court decision in Rasul v. Bush, only nineteen new "high value detainees" were subsequently transferred to the facility.

Negotiations for release

On January 16, 2003, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abuseitov confirmed that Kazakh authorities had conducted interviews with two nationals held at Guantanamo and formally requested their release from U.S. officials. Later that year, in November, Foreign Minister Qasymzhomart Toqaev acknowledged ongoing discussions with the United States, while also highlighting challenges due to some detainees admitting participation in Taliban military activities.

Kazakh detainees held at Guantanamo

ISN	Name	Details
84	Ilkham Turdbyavich Batayev	Alleged abduction and forced involvement in preparing meals for Taliban forces. Returned to Kazakhstan on December 18, 2006.
521	Abdulrahim Kerimbakiyev	Linked to a terrorism suspect and reportedly residing in government-provided housing in Afghanistan. Released on December 21, 2006.
526	Yakub Abahanov	Apprehended alongside two acquaintances from his hometown. Allegedly served as a cook for Taliban members. Accused of affiliation with a Uyghur criminal organization and the East Turkistan Islamic Movement. Subsequently released.
528	Abdallah Tohtasinovich Magrupov	Captured with two friends from his hometown. Allegedly stayed at multiple madrassas during travels through Pakistan. Present during U.S. aerial attacks in Afghanistan in 2001. Eventually released.

Press briefing by Ambassador Ordway on May 22, 2007

During a press conference held at the Kazakhstani Press Club on May 22, 2007, U.S. ambassador John M. Ordway discussed the status of Kazakh detainees at Guantanamo. He confirmed that one individual recognized as a Kazakh citizen remained detained and clarified that U.S. policy does not include compensation payments to former detainees. Ambassador Ordway stressed that detainees are held solely as long as necessary to protect U.S. national security interests.

Question:

Could you provide information about the fourth Kazakhstani still held at Guantanamo? Will the United States offer compensation if his detention was unjustified?

Ambassador Ordway:

The United States does not provide compensation for enemy combatants detained at Guantanamo. Regarding the Kazakhstani detainee currently held, I am unable to disclose specifics; however, we continue negotiations with Kazakhstan concerning potential release or repatriation. Many detainees were captured while engaged in combat against U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Those who faced no charges and were assessed as posing no future threat—such as the three individuals released to Kazakhstan—were freed following thorough evaluations. These released detainees no longer represent a security risk.

Repatriation in October 2008

On October 31, 2008, the Department of Defense revealed the transfer of two detainees back to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The identities of these individuals were not made public by the DoD.