Uzbek Court Closes U.S. Relief Agency
August 23, 2006
August 23, 2006 -- Official news reports from Uzbekistan say the Tashkent City Court today ordered the closure of yet another U.S. nongovernmental organization.
The news website press-uz.info says the court ordered Crosslink Development International to close its offices after finding the group guilty of failing to provide accurate information about its activities and of other charges
Crosslink Development International is a relief agency based in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and has been working in Central Asia since 1992.
In Uzbekistan, it has been granting small start-up loans to poor rural families who want to set up businesses.
The Uzbek Justice Ministry earlier this month accused the group of granting those loans in cash, which it says contravenes the country's laws.
Uzbek authorities have in recent months closed down a string of U.S. and other western NGOs on various charges.
(press-uz.info)