Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Court Denies Refugee Status To Uzbek

A camp on the Kyrgyz border set up for Uzbek refugees in the immediate aftermath of the violence in Andijon (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)

PRAGUE, June 13, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court today denied refugee status to an Uzbek citizen.

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June 13, 2006

Rasuljon Pirmatov is one of four Uzbeks who have been held in Kyrgyz detention since fleeing their country after Uzbek government forces fired on demonstrators in the city of Andijon in May 2005.

Earlier this year, a Kyrgyz court made a similar ruling in the cases of the three other men. Uzbek authorities accuse all four of murder and have demanded their extradition.

All four are recognized as refugees by the UN's refugee agency.

The Kyrgyz prosecutor-general is due to rule whether the men should be extradited to Uzbekistan or sent to a third country.

Andijon Refugees

Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan on May 19, 2005 (epa)

NO PLACE TO GO: More than 400 Uzbeks who fled in panic in the hours and days after troops opened fire on demonstrators in Andijon one year ago have been granted political asylum outside Central Asia. In limbo for weeks in Kyrgyzstan as they and the world tried to come to grips with the bloody events of May 12 and 13, they feared for their lives and the lives of family members as the official crackdown continued.... (more)

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THE COMPLETE STORY: A dedicated webpage bringing together all of RFE/RL's coverage of the events in Andijon, Uzbekistan, in May 2005 and their continuing repercussions.

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For an annotated timeline of the Andijon events and their repercussions, click here.

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