U.S. Group Posts Video Of Andijon Events

The Uzbek government has rejected an independent investigation of the May 2005 events (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, June 23, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A U.S.-based nonprofit group has posted on its website video footage of the moments leading up to the military crackdown in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijon last year.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace says that to the best of its knowledge, the footage is a montage of several videocassettes seized by Uzbek authorities, and is based on materials of two different cameramen among the demonstrators.

Uzbek authorities claim that the cameramen who shot the footage were supporters of the outlawed Islamic group Akramiya.

The footage shows armed men mixing among peaceful protesters.

The Uzbek government insists that the Andijon events were instigated by armed Islamic militants. Tashkent has also refused international calls for an independent investigation into the May 2005 bloodshed.

Rights advocates say many more people were killed in the crackdown than the government admits, including many unarmed civilians.

(with material from AP)

Andijon Refugees

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.


CHRONOLOGY

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