Washington DC, May 13 -- The Foreign and Security Minister of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile, Salih Hudayar has strongly criticised Kazakhstan's recent decision to deny entry to Danish anthropologist Dr. Rune Steenberg, calling it a "disgraceful act of submission" to China.

In a statement posted on X, Hudayar questioned, "Has Kazakhstan become China's new 'Kazakh Autonomous Region'?"

His remarks reflect growing concern among Uyghur activists and advocates about the increasing influence of the Chinese government over Kazakhstan's internal and foreign policy decisions--particularly regarding the sensitive issue of China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang.

Hudayar's statement came in response...