Kyrgyzstan: Detention of 15 Uzbek refugees / Risk of extradition

Case KGZ 040805

(Corrigendum)
Risk of extradition

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Kyrgyzstan.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by reliable sources of the detention of 15 Uzbek refugees in Osh Cizo, in Kyrgyzstan. Four of which have not been granted refugee status and risk extradition to Uzbekistan. These are: Yakub Tashbaev, Rasulgon Pirmatov, Maksudov Gahongir and Adilgon Rahimonov.

The names of the eleven others still detained are: Adil Maksadaliev, Bahtiyar Muhtarov, Burhonidin Nuridinov, Shamsidin Atamatov, Artikbay Akbarov, Faruh Rashidov, Abdishukur Alimov, Abdurahman Kodirov, Nomangon Nematov, Tursun Nazarov, Musagan Mirzabaev.

According to the information received, these refugees were part of a group of 451 refugees, the rest of were airlifted to Romania by the UNHCR and who arrived safely on 29th July.

OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the above mentioned persons still in detention and who remain in danger of being handed over to the Uzbek authorities, contrary to Kyrgyzstan’s obligations under international human rights law and violating article 3 of the UN Convention Against Torture to which Kyrgyzstan is party.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Kyrgyzstan urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above mentioned persons;

ii. order their immediate release and ensure that they are not forcibly returned to Uzbekistan, in accordance with international human rights law;

iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.

Addresses

• Mr. Kurmanbek Salievich Bakiev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzskaya Respublika, 720003 g. Bishkek, Prospekt Chuy, 205, Fax: 996 312 218 627, Email: ghpress2@rhl.bishkek.su
  
  
• Mr. Felix Sharshenbaevich Kulov, Prime Minister, Fax: 996 312 218 627
  Mr. Bakirdin Subanbekov, Minister of the Interior, Fax: 996 312 663 031, 996 312 288 788
  
  
• Mr. Erkin Mamyrov, Minister of Justice, Fax: 996 312 663 044
  
  
• Mr. Azimbek Beknazarov, General Prosecutor of Kyrgyz Republic, Fax: 996 312 625 965
  
  
• Permanent mission of Kyrgyzstan, Rue Maunoir 26, 1207 Genève, Switzerland, Email: kyrgyzmission@bluewin.ch, Fax : +41 22 707.92.21
  

Please also write to the embassies of Kyrgyzstan in your respective country.

Geneva, 4th August 2005.

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.