UN Committee Condemns Kazakhstan For Extraditing Uzbeks

Two of the Uzbek asylum seekers wait outside the Almaty administrative court during their trial in January 2011.

The UN Committee Against Torture says Kazakhstan violated its international commitments by sending 29 Uzbek asylum-seekers back despite fears they would be jailed and tortured.

Kazakh authorities said the 29 men, two of whom were Tajik nationals, were members of a terrorist group and fulfilled Uzbekistan's request to send them back to Uzbekistan.

Most were sentenced and jailed on charges of being members of a terrorist group after their return.

The UN had previously reported that cruel and inhuman treatment by police and investigative officials was "systemic" in Uzbekistan.

The committee demanded Kazakhstan pay compensation to the 29 men and seek to have them returned to Kazakhstan.


Based on reporting by AP and Ferghana.ru