Quick update on what’s happening to the 455 Uzbek refugees in southern Kyrgyzstan who have been the subject of international debate for the last few weeks:
Yesterday it was reported that they were being moved to Bishkek, where they would be held in special camps prior to relocation in a then-unnamed third country.
It was then was announced that the refugees would be flown to Romania, although it remained unconfirmed that this was their final destination for “security reasons”, according the Moscow Times, with Canada cited as a possible host country, or Ukraine or the Czech Republic. RIA Novosti, for example, carried a report that negotiations were underway for Canada to take them in.
Later Ferghana.ru carried a report that it has apparently been confirmed that Canada would take the refugees, and that they will depart Kyrgyzstan later today. However, it appears that Canada will not take all of the refugees, but is ready to take 50 of them, according to polit.ru. The others will be sent to a number of European countries, reports Golos Rossii.
Uzbekistan continues to maintain that the refugees have ties to Islamic extremist groups and should be repatriated.
On a more general note, Mental Wanderlust’s latest news summary is available.
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I think that given the very delicate geo-political situation I think I’d understand if they try to keep the final country of the refugees secret. To the Uzbek government, accepting them is a slap in the face. I just hope that the group doesn’t get broken up too much and sent to too many countries. God knows that it’ll probably be really tough for them to adapt to life in land where they can’t speak the language, and will be effectively at the bottom rung of society. They need each other for support.
BBC reports that 14 of the 29 in Kyrgyz prison have been released and are on their way to Romania. The Uzbek govt. won’t be too happy about all of this.
BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4726513.stm
No, the Uzbek government won’t be happy. Too bad.
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