Uzbekistan Releases Kyrgyz Journalist

Yakubzhanov was in Uzbekistan to cover events connected with the mid-May violence 30 July 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Kyrgyz officials said today that Uzbekistan has released a Kyrgyz journalist detained earlier this month after he was sent to report on unrest in the city of Andijon.

Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Talay Kudyrov told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that Uzbek border guards today released Erkin Yakubzhanov. No other details were provided.

Yakubzhanov was detained on 18 July, more than two months after the mid-May tragedy, as he tried to cross into Uzbekistan from Kyrgyzstan to investigate the violent uprising and Uzbek military crackdown in Andijon.