Kyrgyzstan plans more deportations for Uzbek ‘criminals’ News
Kyrgyzstan plans more deportations for Uzbek ‘criminals’

[JURIST] The Kyrgyz prosecutor general's office said Thursday that Kyrgyzstan plans to deport a group of 29 Uzbek asylum seekers despite UN denunciation [JURIST report; UN press release] of four earlier deportations over the possibility that the returned individuals may face torture in Uzbekistan. A top Kyrgyz prosecutor referred to the refugees as "criminals" and said "they need to be punished, their place is in prison." Hundreds of Uzbeks fled to Kyrgyzstan in May after government troops opened fire on protestors, reportedly killing hundreds [JURIST report] in the city of Andijan. The 29 asylum seekers are expected to be turned over to the Uzbek government within a week. BBC News has more.