KYRGYZ INVESTIGATE REFUGEE ABDUCTIONS; UNHCR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 001329 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM KDEM KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ INVESTIGATE REFUGEE ABDUCTIONS; UNHCR CONFIRMS RELOCATION OF REFUGEES TO THE NORTH REF: A. BISHKEK 1271 ¶B. BISHKEK 1226 Classified By: Classified by DCM Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On September 14, Post contacted the Procurator General's Office for an update on the investigation into the reported abductions in mid-August of four asylum seekers from Osh. Procurator General Kambarli Kongantiyev had promised Ambassador on August 24 that there would be an investigation into the disappearances once his office had additional information (Ref A). International Relations head Nurjan Shaiyldabekova told us that the Deputy Procurator's office in Osh was investigating the cases, and that it had developed information on two of the four abducted asylum seekers. Shaiyldabekova declined to provide names or further details, but said she expected some sort of breakthrough soon. ¶2. (SBU) Separately, UNHCR officers confirmed to Poloff that over the past two weeks, several registered refugees have moved from Kyrgyzstan's southern regions to Bishkek, farther from the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. UNHCR had advised refugees to move because of the increased insecurity the refugees felt following the abductions in August (Ref B). While relocating north may be a temporary fix, UNHCR believes that the security of these refugees remains precarious. ¶3. (C) Comment: We will continue to press the Procurator General to investigate the disappearances fully, as well as to assure the safety of all refugees and asylum seekers in Kyrgyzstan. Unfortunately, we believe this will continue to be an uphill struggle with Kongantiyev, who has previously told us that wanted criminals should be returned to their home countries for prosecution -- even if UNHCR and other international bodies consider them to be legitimate political refugees. End comment. YOVANOVITCH