Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALMATY598
2006-02-14 11:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
US Office Almaty
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: GOK DENIES REFOULEMENT OF UZBEK

Tags:  PHUM PREF PTER KZ UZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6349
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHTA #0598/01 0451133
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141133Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALMATY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4102
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2016
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0042
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0913
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1503
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALMATY 000598 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE),PRM/ECA (R. OLSON),DRL/IRF
(N. HEWETT),DRL/PHD (C. KUCHTA-HELBLING)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREF PTER KZ UZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: GOK DENIES REFOULEMENT OF UZBEK
REFUGEES; NAZAROV TO SWEDEN

REF: A. ALMATY 77

B. 05 ALMATY 4480

C. 05 ALMATY 4393

Classified By: DCM Mark Asquino, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALMATY 000598

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE),PRM/ECA (R. OLSON),DRL/IRF
(N. HEWETT),DRL/PHD (C. KUCHTA-HELBLING)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREF PTER KZ UZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: GOK DENIES REFOULEMENT OF UZBEK
REFUGEES; NAZAROV TO SWEDEN

REF: A. ALMATY 77

B. 05 ALMATY 4480

C. 05 ALMATY 4393

Classified By: DCM Mark Asquino, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary: Three months after a group of Uzbek citizens
was forcibly returned to Uzbekistan from southern Kazakhstan,
the Kazakhstani MFA formally responded to UNHCR's multiple
inquiries with a flat denial of any GOK involvement. This
contradicts previous, informal high-level GOK acknowledgement
to post of the involvement of Kazakstani security forces in
the detentions. The GOK's formal denial has put UNHCR in an
awkward situation and derailed plans for a public statement
on the case. The UNHCR protection officer in Almaty reports
significantly improved cooperation with the GOK on refugee
issues as a result of the situation, however. He also
reports that Imam Nazarov, the spiritual leader of all the
men returned to Uzbekistan in November, has been accepted for
resettlement by Sweden. End summary.

--------------
November Refoulement of Uzbeks
--------------


2. (C) In a February 10 meeting with POEC chief, UNHCR
protection officer Narasimha Rao provided a translation of a
January 26 note verbale from the MFA to UNHCR denying any GOK
involvement in the November return of nine Uzbek citizens
formerly residing in Shymkent (reftels). The note stated
that the Office of the Procurator General, the Ministry of
Interior, the Committee on National Security (KNB),and the
Agency on Fighting Economic Crimes had all informed the MFA
that they had not detained the individuals in question. The
note also said that the GOK had never considered the issue of
extraditing them to Uzbekistan. According to the note, the
Uzbek Department of Interior of the Tashkent region had
reported that Uzbek law enforcement authorities detained the
nine individuals listed Ref B from November 28 to December 2
in Uzbekistan.


3. (C) Rao expressed frustration with the GOK's response, as
it contradicted previous acknowledgements to the USG by FM
Tokayev and Security Council chair Utemuratov (Refs A and B)
that Kazakhstani security forces had been involved in the
unauthorized operation. The GOK's denial of involvement had
complicated UNHCR's plans to issue a public statement on the
case. There were no witnesses to the November 24 and 27
arrests in Shymkent who were willing to come forward and
contest the GOK's version of events.


4. (C) On the positive side, Rao noted, the GOK had become
much more open to dialogue with the UNHCR on refugee issues
since the November incident. Whereas UNHCR used to have a
hard time getting meetings with ministries, and encountered
Migration Police unwilling to recognize the rights of asylum
seekers, the situation has improved. Rao credited a set of
instructions circulated to law enforcement agencies by the
MFA with improving understanding of refugee rights and
willingness to grant registration to individuals without
travel documents. Law enforcement authorities are now obliged
to contact the MFA regarding any cases involving asylum
seekers. He added that the MFA, on its own initiative, had
invited all 11 law enforcement agencies to a February 22
meeting in Astana with UNHCR officials. The goal of the
meeting is to discuss and develop proper procedures for
dealing with refugees.

--------------
Imam Nazarov Accepted by Sweden
--------------


5. (C) Rao informed POEC chief that Sweden had agreed to
accept Imam Nazarov and his family. Although the case is
being handled on an expedited basis due to Nazarov's fears
that the Uzbek authorities will try to detain him in
Kazakhstan, the absence of a Swedish Embassy in Kazakhstan
has slowed the process. The Swedish Embassy in Islamabad is
preparing the travel documents, which will be sent to UNHCR
in Almaty. According to Rao, Nazarov is extremely concerned
about his safety in Almaty and believes that he is being
followed; it is not clear whether the concerns are justified.
Rao plans to work with the MFA to ensure that Nazarov's
departure is not hindered by any CIS "black list" information
the GOU may have distributed.

ALMATY 00000598 002 OF 002


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