PUBLICAI Index: EUR 50/03/99

25 March 1999

Further information on UA 48/99 (EUR 50/01/99, 16 March 1999) and follow-up (EUR 50/02/99, 24 March 1999) - Fear of forcible deportation/fear for safety

UKRAINE/UZBEKISTANMuhammad Bekzhon

Yusif Ruzimuradov

Kobil Diyarov

Negmat Sharipov

Amnesty International has received official confirmation that Muhammad Bekzhon, Yusif Ruzimuradov, Kobil Diyarov and Negmat Sharipov were deported from Ukraine on 18 March 1999. Amnesty International is concerned for their safety, as they have been held incommunicado in an undisclosed location since their return to Uzbekistan.

On 24 March the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee at the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine received an official reply from the Procurator General of Ukraine to an enquiry he had sent about the circumstances of the four men’s arrest. In a written response the Procurator General stated that the four men had been deported on 18 March. The reasons for going ahead with the deportation have not been made public. However, according to unofficial sources, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ukraine has stated that the four men were deported because they had not asked for asylum.

The forcible return to Uzbekistan of these four men violates Ukraine’s obligations under the Convention against Torture, which prohibits the return of a person to a country or territory where they might face serious human rights violations, and under the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/ airmail letters in Russian, English or in your own language:

To the Ukainian authorities:

- expressing regret at the forcible deportation of Muhammad Bekzhon, Yusif Ruzimuradov, Kobil Diyarov and Negmat Sharipov despite fears that they will suffer serious human rights violations in Uzbekistan

- reminding the Ukrainian authorities of their obligations under international law.

APPEALS TO:

Procurator General of Ukraine, Mykhaylo POTEBENKO

252601g. Kiev-II, ul. Reznitskaya, 13/15

Prokuratura Ukrainy, Generalnomu prokuroru Potebenko M.

UKRAINE

Telegrams: Ukraina, 252601 g. Kiev, generalnomu prokuroru Potebenko

Fax: + 380 44 296 89 03

Salutation: Dear Procurator General

Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Yuriy KRAVCHENKO

252024 g. Kiev, ul. Bogomoltsa, 10

Ministerstvo vnutrennikh del, Ministru Kravchenko Yu.

UKRAINE

Telegrams: Ukraina, 252024 g. Kiev, ministru vnutrennikh del Kravchenko

Fax: +380 44 291 17 33

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Committee on Human Rights, Gennadiy UDOVENKO

252019 g. Kiev, ul. M. Grushevskogo, 5

Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy, Komitet po pravam cheloveka,

Presedatelyu UDOVENKO G.

UKRAINE

Telegrams: Ukraina, 252019 g. Kiev, Verhovna Rada, predsedatelyu komiteta po pravam cheloveka Udovenko

Fax: +380 44 293 73 64; 380 44 293 69 50 attention Udovenko

Salutation: Dear Chairman

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in Russian, English or in your own language:

To the Uzbek authorities:

- urging the authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Muhammad Bekzhon, Yusif Ruzimuradov, Kobil Diyarov and Negmat Sharipov

- seeking assurances that they will be protected from any form of ill-

treatment and be allowed immediate access to family and legal representatives.

APPEALS TO:

President of Uzbekistan, Islam KARIMOV

700163 g. Tashkent, 43 pr. Uzbekistansky,

Rezidentsiya Prezidenta, Prezidentu Karimovu I.A.,

UZBEKISTAN

Telegrams: Prezidentu Karimovu, 700163 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Faxes: +998 71 139 5525 or 139 5510

Salutation: Dear President Karimov

Chairman of the National Centre for Human Rights, Akmal SAIDOV

700008 g. Tashkent, 5/3 Mustakillik Maidoni,

Natsionalny tsentr po pravam cheloveka, Predsedatelyu SAIDOVU A.

UZBEKISTAN

Telegrams: Uzbekistan, 700008 g. Tashkent, Natsionalny tsentr po pravam cheloveka, predsedatelyu Saidovu

Fax: +998 71 139 13 56 or +998 71 39 45 16

e-mail: office@nchr.uz

Salutation: Dear Chairman

and to diplomatic representatives of Ukraine and Uzbekistan accredited to

your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,

or your section office, if sending appeals after 6 May 1999.