Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALMATY1070
2006-03-27 11:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
US Office Almaty
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: IMAM NAZAROV DEPARTS FOR SWEDEN

Tags:  PHUM PREF UZ KZ POLITICAL 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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

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