kyrgyz

Kyrgyzstan’s asylum system further eroded as five Uzbeks disappear, warns UN agency

25 August 2006
The United Nations refugee agency said today it was gravely concerned over the fate of five Uzbek asylum-seekers who have “disappeared” in recent weeks from southern Kyrgyzstan, warning this latest incident shows an erosion of the Kyrgyz asylum system as it follows the expulsion earlier this month of several Uzbeks back to their homeland.

UN agency fears for the safety of Uzbek refugees after Kyrgyzstan sends them back

9 August 2006
Expressing shock at Kyrgyzstan’s extradition of four Uzbek refugees and one asylum seeker back to Uzbekistan, the United Nations refugee agency said today it feared for their safety, stressed that the forced return violated the 1951 Refugee Convention and called on the Uzbek authorities to grant humanitarian access to the deportees.

In Central Asia, UN-backed water project paves the way for further cooperation

26 July 2006
Water relations in Central Asia take a significant step forward today with the inauguration of the United Nations-supported Chu-Talas Rivers Commission involving Kazakhstan and landlocked Kyrgyzstan, with the world body saying the agreement provides a model for cooperation for other trans-boundary river basins in the region.

UN refugee agency ‘extremely concerned’ over Uzbek refugees after Kyrgyz court ruling

14 June 2006
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said today it was “extremely concerned” about the fate of four Uzbek refugees in detention in Kyrgyzstan, who fled their country after last year’s killings in the city of Andijan, following a decision on Tuesday by the country’s Supreme Court which means that all four have now been denied refugee status.
Andijan, Uzbekistan

UN refugee agency calls on Kyrgyz Government not to forcibly return Uzbek refugees

9 June 2006
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) today repeated calls to the Kyrgyz Government not to forcibly return four refugees to Uzbekistan who fled their country after last year’s killings in the city of Andijan, saying such extraditions would violate the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.

New Kyrgyz rules could violate refugee convention, UN agency says

30 May 2006
Amendments to Kyrgyzstan’s refugee law could violate the 1951 Refugee Convention, which the Central Asian country has ratified, if they deny access of illegal foreigners to refugee status determination procedures, the relevant United Nations agency said today.

Detained Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan should be resettled in third country – UN expert

18 October 2005
A United Nations human rights expert today called on Kyrgyzstan not to return four detained Uzbeks to their homeland where torture is reported to be systematic, but to facilitate their resettlement in a third country.

Despite rights gaps, UN expert welcomes Kyrgyz legal reforms

23 September 2005
Despite insufficient guarantees for a fair trial and other defendant rights gaps in Kyrgyzstan, a top United Nations legal expert today welcomed the process of constitutional reform in the country and appealed to international donors to support it.
Uzbek refugees await transfer to Romania

Kyrgyzstan: Uzbek refugees fly out, but UN concerned for detainees left behind

29 July 2005
More than 400 Uzbek refugees who fled violence in their homeland two months ago were flown to Romania from Kyrgyzstan today, but the United Nations refugee agency is still negotiating with Kyrgyz authorities over the fate of another 15 amid fears they could be returned to Uzbekistan where they could face torture.

Annan calls on Kyrgyzstan not to repatriate Uzbek asylum-seekers

28 July 2005
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to facilitate the evacuation of Uzbek refugees and asylum-seekers, following reports that a number of them were being prevented from leaving a detention centre.