BBC: Kazakhstan’s Uzbek refugees wait in limbo
Kazakhstan, Politics and Society, UzbekistanNo Comment
Just a quick note to say that there’s an important story on the BBC by Rayhan Demytrie about Uzbek refugees in Kazakhstan.
“Welcome to my home,” he says opening the door to the small room his family occupies. He is an Uzbek man in his early 20s, seeking refugee status in Kazakhstan. Rustam is not his real name. He asked that his identity be kept secret because he fears for his security.
[...] “Under a false pretext they took me to their headquarters, they beat me and questioned me for many hours. They said that they would let me go if I agreed to serve my country.” Rustam was told that one of his tasks would be to provide a list of people who attended prayers at mosques.
[...] According to the UNHCR, 82 people from Uzbekistan were granted refugee status in Kazakhstan in 2009. Another 68 cases are pending. Kazakhstan, along with Ukraine and Russia, are the most common destinations for Uzbeks seeking political asylum. The UNHCR says there are more than 6,000 Uzbek refugees worldwide.
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