Uzbek Refugees Reportedly Detained In Czech Republic

(RFE/RL) July 17, 2007 -- The Czech Republic has reportedly detained two Uzbek refugees for almost two weeks at Tashkent's request.

An independent Uzbek information website, uznews.net, says the two were detained while crossing the Czech-German border on July 3.


Berlin granted both men refugee status after the violence that broke out in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijon in May 2005.


A German Foreign Ministry spokesman is quoted as saying the ministry has sent a request to the Czech government to release the detainees as soon as possible.


(Uznews.net, SNGnews.ru, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service)

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.