Kyrgyzstan Extradites Journalist To Uzbekistan Despite Concerns Over Persecution
Kyrgyzstan has extradited Uzbek journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev to neighboring Uzbekistan, despite concern from the United States and rights groups that he could be tortured and persecuted.
Kyrgyzstan's national security committee said in a statement on August 22 that Abdullaev was extradited to Uzbekistan "in accordance with international law."
It said that the Uzbek government provided Kyrgyzstan with assurances that Abdullaev would not be ill-treated or tortured.
Sergei Mayorov said his client was released to his sister’s house but will be barred from traveling inside or outside Uzbekistan pending a full investigation and further questioning.
Uzbekistan has not specified the exact nature of the charges against the 47-year-old independent journalist.
Media reports in Uzbekistan suggest Abdullaev is being sought in connection with social-media posts critical of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev that were written under the pen name Qora Mergan (Black Shooter).
Abdullaev has denied that he has any connection to the writings.
Abdullaev's treatment has previously been the focus of rights groups after he and three other men were arrested in 2017 in Tashkent. They were charged with calling for a change to Uzbekistan's constitutional order by force.
Those charges stemmed from a series of articles under the byline Usman Haqnazarov, which was apparently used by more than one person.
Abdullaev also denied guilt then, saying he was doing his job as a journalist.
In May 2018, Abdullaev was convicted on charges of producing "anti-government propaganda." But he was cleared of the more serious charge of conspiracy against the state -- and was then released.
Kyrgyz authorities detained Abdullaev in Bishkek on August 9 and held him in a detention center pending a decision on Uzbekistan's extradition request.
Abdullaev studied for four months at Bishkek's American University of Central Asia and has been stuck in Kyrgyzstan due to coronavirus travel restrictions. Prior to that, the journalist had lived in Germany for several months at the invitation of the media rights group Reporters Without Borders.
Seven foreign-based human rights groups, including Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, had appealed to the Kyrgyz authorities to release Abdullayev out of concern he could face ill-treatment and persecution in Uzbekistan.
The U.S. State Department also called on Kyrgyzstan to release the journalist and let him depart to a country of his choice.
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Belarus Opposition Leader To Meet Leading U.S. Diplomat In Lithuania
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya will meet on August 24 with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in a sign of deepening U.S. involvement in finding a peaceful resolution to a disputed presidential election in Belarus.
Tsikhanouskaya's team said on August 22 that the No. 2 U.S. diplomat would meet Tsikhanouskaya in Lithuania, where she fled following the contested August 9 vote in Belarus that has triggered two weeks of protests.
Biegun also will meet Lithuania's defense and foreign ministers to discuss the situation in Belarus and bilateral and defense matters, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said. Biegun will travel on to Russia later in the week.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax on August 22 that talks in Moscow would go beyond the subject of Belarus.
"In addition, we're meaning to have an in-depth discussion with him of all things related to Russian-U.S. relations in various aspects," Ryabkov said.
Belarusian President Aleyaksandr Lukashenka (center) visits a military firing range near Hrodno on August 22.
Earlier on August 22, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka ordered his defense minister and westernmost military forces to adopt "the most stringent measures" to protect the country's borders in the face of what he suggested was a foreign-backed plan for a "color revolution" in the country.
His appearance, in fatigues at a military training ground at Hrodno near the border with Poland, was the latest public indication that the embattled five-term president intends to weather unprecedented street protests urging him to step down after the disputed presidential election.
"Everything is clear," Lukashenka was quoted as saying to state-run Belta news agency. "As we expected, everything is going according to a plan for a color revolution with the agitation of the internal political situation in the country."
Lukashenka cited an unconfirmed "movement of NATO troops to the borders."
Belarus shares its western border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
"We see that NATO troops are seriously stirring in the immediate vicinity of our borders on the territory of Poland and Lithuania," the Russian TASS news agency quoted Lukashenka as saying.
NATO said the claims were "baseless".
"As we have already made clear, NATO poses no threat to Belarus or any other country and has no military buildup in the region," it said in a statement.
Demonstrations and strikes have erupted across Belarus to protest what critics call a rigged election in which Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory.
In his latest threat, Lukashenka said he would close factories that have seen protests from workers who traditionally formed a base of political support.
"If a factory is not working then let's put a lock on its gate from Monday, let's stop it," Russian RIA-Novosti news agency cited Lukashenka as saying. "People will calm down and we will decide whom to invite (to work) next."
Lukashenka also expressed confidence that the Russia-led that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) would support him in any confrontation with the organizers of protests in the country.
He wanted to warn people "sitting abroad in the neighboring countries" that the border of Belarus is the border of the Russian-backed military alliance, and "a response will be adequate," he said, according to Interfax.
Tsikhanouskaya, who entered the race after her husband was jailed shortly after announcing his planned candidacy, told Reuters on August 22 that Lukashenka would have to leave sooner or later.
Tsikhanouskaya said she had received calls from international leaders, including Britain and Germany, and had asked only that they support the Belarusian public and respect Belarusian sovereignty.
Asked by Reuters about Belarus's powerful neighbor to the east, she said she had no reason to contact President Vladimir Putin but would similarly hope that Russia respects Belarusian sovereignty.
Tsikhanouskaya, who has offered to serve a transitional role and help de-escalate the situation, said she hoped to return to Belarus at some point but that she currently felt safer in Lithuania.
Thousands of people have been arrested and reports of torture and disappearances have increased in a brutal crackdown on protesters.
In Minsk on August 22, a demonstration by women wearing white clothing included the formation of a human chain against police brutality as they demand to release political prisoners, an end to the violence, and punishment for all guilty parties.
The European Union has said it does not recognize the August 9 presidential vote because of irregularities that ended up giving the strongman just over 80 percent of the ballot, and the United States has expressed support for an independent international examinations of “electoral irregularities.”
Tsikhanouskaya said on August 21 that she had filed an official complaint against the announced results, saying her compatriots "will never accept" Lukashenka's continued rule.
"It should be clear to the president that there is a need for change," Tsikhanouskaya said at her first press conference, on August 21, since fleeing to Lithuania last week amid fears of arrest. "I hope that good sense prevails and the people will be heard and there will be new elections."
Official results gave Tsikhanouskaya about 10 percent of the vote, but she claims to have actually received between 60 and 70 percent.
Belarusian prosecutors said on August 20 that they had opened a criminal investigation into national-security-related charges against the founders of an opposition council set up to negotiate the transition of power amid the huge protests.
The council members have rejected the accusations and insisted that their actions have been in full conformity with Belarusian law.
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