AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

News Flash

AI Index: EUR 58/013/2005 (Public)

News Service No: 204

29 July 2005

Kyrgyzstan: Refugees -- 14 released, 15 remain in detention

Amnesty International (AI) has received reports that 14 of the 29 refugees who had been detained by the Kyrgyzstan authorities have been transferred into the care of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The 14 released refugees were among the 440 refugees who left Kyrgyzstan in the UNHCR "humanitarian airlift". According to reports, they arrived in Romania today (29 July).

However, 15 are still detained, 12 of whom have been recognized as refugees and three asylum-seekers. AI stresses that all 15 continue to be in need of international protection. According to the UNHCR, 11 of these refugees have already been accepted for resettlement for third countries.

"We continue to urge the Kyrgyzstan authorities not to forcibly return any of these refugees or asylum-seekers back to Uzbekistan, in accordance with their obligations under international human rights law, and to immediately transfer them into the care of UNHCR," said AI.

For more information, please see: "Kyrgyzstan: Refugees at risk as authorities refuse to release them for 'humanitarian airlift'" (http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGEUR580122005)

Public Document

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