…Kazakh government is defiantly failing to fulfill…

2010-09-17
1
COMMITTEE TO SAVE THE REFUGEES
Facing Extradition from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan
P R E S S R E L E A S E
On Friday, September 17, 2010, in several countries, including Ukraine, Switzerland,
Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Czech Republic, Holland and the U.S. pickets will be held to protest against
the decision of the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan to extradite to Uzbekistan 29 refugees, including
17 persons who were granted “mandate refugee” status by the UNHCR earlier in periods between 2005
till March 2010.
Between 9 and 11 June 2010, law enforcement agencies of Kazakhstan have arrested
more than 45 refugees in Almaty (Kazakhstan), including 30 people on the extradition request of the
Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan.
Despite the fact three months has already passed since their arrest, the prosecutor of
Almaty city has not yet issued these refugees’ UN hired lawyers special permits that enable them to
meet their 29 arrested clients. Now refugees reasonably believe that they will get acquainted with the
decision only at the last moment, when they will not have time to appeal against it, as this has
happened twice in the past.
From 11 to 27 August 2010, Kazakh Republican Central Committee for Determination of
Refugee Status reviewed the case of these refugees and denied twenty-nine of them the status. We
believe that the Commission’s decision is politically motivated.
Furthermore, there have been rumors that, the head office of UNHCR might have on 31
August revoked the “mandate refugee” status of the above mentioned 17 detainees. We protest against
the UNHCR’s decision to abolish the refugee status of those people when they needed it most, as this
action may cause irreparable damage to the health of the refugees. Now they are facing, beside other
12 other asylum seekers, the threat of extradition to a country where torture is exercised systematically.
We would like to draw attention of the public to the fact that the Kazakh government is
defiantly failing to fulfill its international obligations as defined in:
– UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, 1951 (Article 33);
– UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (Article 3);
– International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 7, 18, 19, 22).
We, the participants of the pickets, urge all people of goodwill who care about the fate of
29 asylum seekers to sign our appeal.
We also urge the media to pay attention to the fact that the UNHCR in Kazakhstan,
retreating from its primary task – protecting refugees. Unfortunately, the EU, the U.S. administration,
and the OSCE are silently approving so far these irregularities committed by the UNHCR.
Representatives of the mass media and other interested parties may contact the picketers in different
countries through the following contact details:
2010-09-17
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Country Contact person Place Time Telephone
Germany Omonulloh
Maksudov (rus, uzb)
Berlin, Embassy of Kazakhstan
Nordendstraße 14-17, 13156,
Berlin
12:00-15:00
(Local Time)
+4917620427085
Holland Abdukamol
Mirzakosomov
(rus, uzb)
Hague, Embassy of Kazakhstan,
Nieuwe Parklaan 69, 2597 LB,
Den Haag
11:00-12:00
(Local Time)
+31644215248
Rafukjon
Khudayberdiev
(rus, uzb)
Denmark +4550486789
Ibrohim Asparov
(rus, uzb)
Copenhagen, The OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly,
Rådhusstræde 1
1466 København K, Denmark
10:30-12:00
(Local Time)
+4552925291
+4532144337
USA Ulugbek Sabirov
(rus, uzb)
Washington, D.C,
Embassy of Kazakhstan,
1401 16th Street, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20036
9:00-13:00
(Local Time)
+13302458472
Shavkat Khodjayev
(rus, uzb)
Ukraine +380975629431
Mahbuba Azimova
(rus, uzb)
Kiev, Embassy of Kazakhstan,
01901, Kiev,
Melnikova Street, 26
11:00-13:00
(Local Time)
+380931519186
Tuychiboy
Khodjanazarov
(rus, uzb)
Czeck +420774326585
Republic
Abdusalom Karimov
(rus, uzb)
Prague, Embassy of
Kazakhstan,
Romaina Rollanda 12, Praha 6,
160 00
10:00-13:00
(Local Time)
+420775908487
Ahmad Iyso
(rus, uzb)
+46706034818
Aziz Mannanov
(eng, rus, uzb)
+46700448257
Switzerland
Abduvohid
Yuldashev (uzb)
Geneva, UNHCR
Headquarters, CH-1211
Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse
10:00-12:00
(Local Time)
+46736398079
Abdumalik Nazarov +46762029120
(uzb) +46762788739
Rustam Sabitov
(rus, uzb)
Sweden
Bakhodir Yakubov
(rus, uzb)
Stockholm,
UNHCR Regional Office,
Ynglingagatan 14
113 47 Stockholm
10:00-12:30
(Local Time)
+46700989751
2010-09-17
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Representatives of the Committee to Save the Refugees Facing Extradition from Kazakhstan to
Uzbekistan:
Mutabar Tajibayeva,
Head, human rights organization “Utyuraklar Klubi” (Club of Flaming Hearts). Paris, France. Laureate
Martin Ennals Award 2008, National Prize of France, “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” and “Courageous
Woman of the Year” United States. Tel.: 33 662579409; E-mail: mutabartadjibaeva@gmail.com
Talib Yakubov,
Vice-President of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan. Angers, France. Tel.: 33 241667961; E-mail:
dptalib@safe-mail.net
Ismail Dadajanov,
President of the Democratic Forum of Uzbekistan. Helsinborg, Sweden. Tel.: 46 424993383 E-mail:
uzbek55@mail.ru
Nurillo Maksudov,
Chairman of the Organization of Andijan – Adolat va Tiklanish (Andijan – Justice and Regeneration),
Düsseldorf, Germany. Tel.: 49 17622979267, 49 21146818660 E-mail: andijon.adolat@gmail.com
Kamoliddin Rabbimov,
Political Scientist, France. Tel.: +33 622418665 E-mail: kmr.uzb@gmail.com
Nadejda Atayeva,
President of the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, Le Mans, France
Tel.: +33 6 49 38 86 59; E-mail: asiecentrale@neuf.fr
Ahmad Iyso,
The representative of the Initiative Group of the Uzbek Diaspora in Sweden (IGUDS). Tel: 46 7 06 03 48
18; E-mail: igursw@gmail.com