Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALMATY2291
2006-06-28 01:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
US Office Almaty
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: UZBEK REFUGEE DETAINED BY AUTHORITIES

Tags:  PHUM PREF UZ KZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2524
RR RUEHAST RUEHDBU
DE RUEHTA #2291 1790109
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280109Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALMATY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5945
INFO RUEHAST/USOFFICE ASTANA
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1274
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 7601
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 7636
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7010
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1796
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0932
UNCLAS ALMATY 002291 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

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
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: UZBEK REFUGEE DETAINED BY AUTHORITIES

REF: A. ALMATY 1070, B. ALMATY 598

UNCLAS ALMATY 002291

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

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
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: UZBEK REFUGEE DETAINED BY AUTHORITIES

REF: A. ALMATY 1070, B. ALMATY 598


1. (SBU) Summary: Kazakhstani security officials have
detained an Uzbek citizen holding a UNHCR refugee
certificate, purportedly in connection with crimes committed
in Kazakhstan. UNHCR reports that the MFA has not responded
formally to their numerous inquiries and requests for
access, but has unofficially told them that the KNB is
holding the individual, Gabdurafikh Temirbayev. UNHCR is
concerned that Temirbayev could be deported to Uzbekistan.
End summary.


2. (SBU) UNHCR protection officer Narasimha Rao confirmed to
pol-econ chief on June 27 that press reports regarding the
June 24 detention of Uzbek refugee Gabdurafikh Temirbayev in
Almaty were largely accurate. Temirbayev was a follower of
Imam Nazarov (Ref A) from Tashkent, not an Andijon refugee
as reported in some articles, Rao said. According to
information published by his family, Temirbayev arrived in
Kazakhstan in March 1999.


3. (SBU) Rao indicated that Temirbayev had been the focus of
Kazakhstani security forces for some time. While Temirbayev
was living in Shymkent before coming to Almaty to apply for
refugee status, the authorities searched his home and seized
documents. After he moved to Almaty, KNB officials visited
the refugee assistance officer at the Kazakhstani
International Bureau of Human Rights (KIBHR) to ask for
Temirbayev's address. The officials reportedly told KIBHR
that Temirbayev was wanted on criminal charges in
Kazakhstan. KIBHR referred the KNB officers to UNHCR.


4. (SBU) Rao said that as this incident occurred before a
determination had been made in Temirbayev's case, UNHCR had
written to the MFA to report the inquiry and to ask whether
there were any charges pending against the Uzbek citizen.
The MFA replied approximately one month ago that there were
no pending charges, according to Rao. He said that UNHCR
issued Temirbayev a refugee certificate on June 16 on the
basis of the information from the MFA.


5. (SBU) Rao told pol-econ chief that UNHCR had sent the MFA
at least five notes verbale in the days since Temirbayev's
detention. There had been no formal response, but MFA
officials told UNHCR by phone that Temirbayev was in KNB
custody and promised to arrange access in the next few days.
Rao noted that the lack of a written response made it
difficult for the UNHCR to comment publicly on the case,
since in the past the GOK had denied information shared
verbally regarding other Uzbek refugees (Ref B).


6. (SBU) There is a risk that Temirbayev could be deported
to Uzbekistan, according to Rao. Before the detention he
had reassured Temirbayev and his relatives that Kazakhstani
authorities would respect their international commitments,
but now it was clear that proper interagency coordination
was not taking place. UNCHR representative Cesar Dubon has
said that if there is not a formal GOK response in the
coming days, he will brief ambassadors in Almaty and request
interested governments to weigh in with the GOK.


7. (SBU) Comment: Post will continue to follow this case
closely and will raise with the MFA at the earliest
opportunity. End comment.

ORDWAY