The list of officials banned from entering the EU includes Almatov, Defense Minister Kadyr Gulyamov, and the head of the National Security Service, Rustam Inoyatov.
A German government official said today that Berlin issued the visa on humanitarian grounds. A German Foreign Ministry spokesman, Michael Iber, said treatment in a special hospital is such a humanitarian reason.
"The EU has introduced an entry ban and there is one exception -- humanitarian reasons," he said. "Health treatment in a special clinic can be such a humanitarian reason."
The official said the visa was issued in October. Berlin, aware of the forthcoming ban, had informed the EU's executive Commission and Britain, which holds the bloc's rotating presidency.
The EU Council allowed for certain exemptions of the travel ban, including on humanitarian grounds.
(Reuters, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service)
Aftermath Of Andijon
A dedicated webpage bringing together all of RFE/RL's coverage of the events in Andijon, Uzbekistan, in May 2005 and their continuing repercussions.