Kyrgyzstan to consult UN and Uzbekistan over refugees News
Kyrgyzstan to consult UN and Uzbekistan over refugees

[JURIST] Kyrgyz Prime Minister Felix Kulov said Monday that Kyrgyzstan [JURIST news archive] will decide on the fate of 15 Uzbek refugees [JURIST report] trilaterally through the opinions of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees [official website] and the Kyrgyz and Uzbek General Prosecutor's Offices. The 15 refugees were detained after fleeing Uzbekistan following an uprising in the eastern city of Andijan [JURIST report] but have not been granted asylum because they are considered criminals by Uzbekistan. The Kyrgyz General Prosecutor's Office is examining the conclusions of each organization, Kulov said, and has been examining Uzbek law-enforcement documents accusing the detainees of acts of terrorism. Kyrgyz Chief Prosecutor Azimbek Beknazarov has suggested the return of the refugees, but if proven innocent, the 15 Uzbek citizens being held in a pre-trial detention center in Osh will be granted refugee status by the Kyrgyz General Prosecutor's Office. RIA Novosti has more.