KAZAKHSTAN: IMAM NAZAROV DEPARTS FOR SWEDEN

UNCLAS ALMATY 001070 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE),DRL/PHD (C. KUCHTA- HELBLING),DRL/IRF (N. HEWETT),PRM/ECA (R. OLSON) GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREF UZ KZ POLITICAL SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: IMAM NAZAROV DEPARTS FOR SWEDEN REF: A) ALMATY 808, B) 05 ALMATY 4393 ¶1. (SBU) After receiving UNHCR refugee status, well-known Uzbek imam Abidkhan Nazarov and his extended family left Kazakhstan for Sweden on March 15. Despite the UNHCR's careful coordination with the MFA to avoid any immigration problems, at the last moment the KNB tried to block Nazarov's departure due to a request from Uzbekistan for his return. The Ambassador phoned Foreign Minister Tokayev to request his assistance in resolving the situation; Tokayev called back within 30 minutes to report that Nazarov's departure had been authorized. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: The GOK's decision to do the right thing in the Nazarov case by respecting the UNHCR's refugee determination is significant. It to some degree resolves concerns raised by the November return of four asylum- seekers to Uzbekistan (Ref B): it showed that when decisions on refugees issues are properly coordinated in Astana, the correct outcome is achieved. The fact that the GOK permitted Nazarov's departure just four days before President Nazarbayev's state visit to Uzbekistan, where he presumably got an earful from Karimov on the subject, is particularly noteworthy. End comment. ORDWAY