UNHCR REPORTS PENDING RELEASE OF UZBEK REFUGEE

UNCLAS ALMATY 002550

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR/CACEN (J.MUDGE),DRL/PHD (P.DAVIS, C.KUCHTA-
HELBLING, AND PRM/ECA (E. TOURE, T.TARGOS)
TBILISI FOR REFCOORD SARGE CHEEVER

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM PINR SMIG IO UZ KZ POLITICAL
SUBJECT: UNHCR REPORTS PENDING RELEASE OF UZBEK REFUGEE

REF: Almaty 02503


1. (SBU) On July 8 at 12:00 pm, UNHCR Protection Officer
N.L. Narasimha Rao reported to Embassy that it appears a
deal has been struck to release Uzbek refugee Lutfullo
Shamsudinov. UNHCR reported that the GOK has agreed to
release Shamsudinov if he is directly removed to the
airport and then to a third country. [Note: This deal is
in line with what the MFA hinted at during Astana PO's
meeting with DFM Volkov on July 7. End Note]


2. (SBU) UNHCR further reports that it plans to transport
Shamsudinov from a city migration police holding facility
on Monday, July 11, and put him on an evening KLM flight
to Germany via Amsterdam. UNHCR has already purchased
tickets. His family and a UNHCR official will accompany
him.


3. (SBU) UNHCR reports that it has reached an agreement
with the German government to provide visas to those
involved. Visas should be issued either today, Friday July
8, or on Monday, July 11.


4. (SBU) Post continues to monitor the situation and
maintains close contact with UNHCR.

ORDWAY


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