Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT928
2008-08-12 12:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: OPPOSITION LEADER FORCIBLY DEPORTED TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHNT #0928 2251221 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 121221Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0139 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 4261 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0475 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4878 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0730 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0301 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0757 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4458 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2749 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0769 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1408 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1989 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1394 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2716 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0164 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0314
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000928
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA, DRL, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV PINR PREL KG UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: OPPOSITION LEADER FORCIBLY DEPORTED TO
KYRGYZSTAN
REF: TASHKENT 792
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000928
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA, DRL, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV PINR PREL KG UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: OPPOSITION LEADER FORCIBLY DEPORTED TO
KYRGYZSTAN
REF: TASHKENT 792
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) On August 12, Birlik opposition party General
Secretary Vasila Inoyatova (who is also head of the Ezgulik
human rights group) reported to poloff that Birlik Deputy
Chairman Pulat Akhunov, who returned to Uzbekistan from exile
in Sweden in March 2007 to renew his passport (reftel),was
forcibly deported from Uzbekistan. According to Inoyatova,
Uzbek authorities burst into Akhunov's home near Andijon on
August 10, threw a large sack over his head, and forced him
into a nearby car, which then drove him illegally (without
going through immigration or customs) across the border into
Kyrgyzstan. The car reportedly drove Akhunov all the way to
the outskirts of Bishkek, where he was dumped off without any
identification or money. Inoyatova said that Akhunov
literally only had the clothes on his back and had to walk
the remainder of the way into Bishkek.
2. (C) Akhunov returned to Uzbekistan from exile in Sweden
in March 2007 to renew his Uzbek passport, which had expired
after he turned 45 years' of age (Note: All Uzbek citizens
must renew their passports at 25 and 45 years' of age. End
note.) After submitting his passport for renewal to the
local Ministry of Interior Passport Office (OVIR) in Andijon
province in April 2007, OVIR officials refused to grant
Akhunov a new Uzbek passport or return his old one.
Authorities interfered with his travel within Uzbekistan on
several occasions in 2007 and 2008, including preventing him
from attending the Embassy's July 4 reception this year. On
July 7, Akhunov was summoned to a court in Andijon province
on July 9 to review his "residency status." According to
Inoyatova, the court ruled on July 28 that Akhunov was to be
deported from Uzbekistan because he lacked a propiska
(residency permit). As Inoyatova noted, Akhunov lacked a
propiska because OVIR refused to issue him a new passport.
3. (C) Inoyatova said that Akhunov had already approached the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office
in Bishkek, which is currently assisting him. Birlik party
leader Abdurakhmon Pulat, who resides in Washington, also
reportedly wired money to Akhunov via Western Union.
Inoyatova believed that Akhunov would return to Sweden after
he is granted new documentation by UNHCR. Since Akhunov was
unofficially transported by Uzbek authorities across the
border into Kyrgyzstan, Inoyatova speculated that he would be
charged with illegal border crossing if he ever attempted to
return to Uzbekistan.
4. (C) Comment: Akhunov's deportation is no surprise: he
himself predicted as much during poloff's visit to his home
on June 26 (reftel). At the time, Akhunov seemed relieved
that at least the Uzbeks were moving towards making a
decision regarding his residency status and that even if he
were deported from Uzbekistan, at least he would be reunited
with his family in Sweden. Nevertheless, the method by which
the Uzbeks reportedly deported Akhunov is disturbing and
appears aimed at sending a blunt message to other opposition
figures.
BUTCHER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA, DRL, AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV PINR PREL KG UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: OPPOSITION LEADER FORCIBLY DEPORTED TO
KYRGYZSTAN
REF: TASHKENT 792
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) On August 12, Birlik opposition party General
Secretary Vasila Inoyatova (who is also head of the Ezgulik
human rights group) reported to poloff that Birlik Deputy
Chairman Pulat Akhunov, who returned to Uzbekistan from exile
in Sweden in March 2007 to renew his passport (reftel),was
forcibly deported from Uzbekistan. According to Inoyatova,
Uzbek authorities burst into Akhunov's home near Andijon on
August 10, threw a large sack over his head, and forced him
into a nearby car, which then drove him illegally (without
going through immigration or customs) across the border into
Kyrgyzstan. The car reportedly drove Akhunov all the way to
the outskirts of Bishkek, where he was dumped off without any
identification or money. Inoyatova said that Akhunov
literally only had the clothes on his back and had to walk
the remainder of the way into Bishkek.
2. (C) Akhunov returned to Uzbekistan from exile in Sweden
in March 2007 to renew his Uzbek passport, which had expired
after he turned 45 years' of age (Note: All Uzbek citizens
must renew their passports at 25 and 45 years' of age. End
note.) After submitting his passport for renewal to the
local Ministry of Interior Passport Office (OVIR) in Andijon
province in April 2007, OVIR officials refused to grant
Akhunov a new Uzbek passport or return his old one.
Authorities interfered with his travel within Uzbekistan on
several occasions in 2007 and 2008, including preventing him
from attending the Embassy's July 4 reception this year. On
July 7, Akhunov was summoned to a court in Andijon province
on July 9 to review his "residency status." According to
Inoyatova, the court ruled on July 28 that Akhunov was to be
deported from Uzbekistan because he lacked a propiska
(residency permit). As Inoyatova noted, Akhunov lacked a
propiska because OVIR refused to issue him a new passport.
3. (C) Inoyatova said that Akhunov had already approached the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office
in Bishkek, which is currently assisting him. Birlik party
leader Abdurakhmon Pulat, who resides in Washington, also
reportedly wired money to Akhunov via Western Union.
Inoyatova believed that Akhunov would return to Sweden after
he is granted new documentation by UNHCR. Since Akhunov was
unofficially transported by Uzbek authorities across the
border into Kyrgyzstan, Inoyatova speculated that he would be
charged with illegal border crossing if he ever attempted to
return to Uzbekistan.
4. (C) Comment: Akhunov's deportation is no surprise: he
himself predicted as much during poloff's visit to his home
on June 26 (reftel). At the time, Akhunov seemed relieved
that at least the Uzbeks were moving towards making a
decision regarding his residency status and that even if he
were deported from Uzbekistan, at least he would be reunited
with his family in Sweden. Nevertheless, the method by which
the Uzbeks reportedly deported Akhunov is disturbing and
appears aimed at sending a blunt message to other opposition
figures.
BUTCHER