UN May Move Uzbek Refugees From Southern Kyrgyzstan

Since May 2005, many hundreds of Uzbeks have gone from camps like this, on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border, to countries around the world (ITAR-TASS) PRAGUE, August 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR, says it is considering moving Uzbek refugees and asylum seekers living in the Osh region of southern Kyrgyzstan.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Uzbek Service from Geneva, UNHCR spokeswoman Helene Caux said the organization is considering the move following the disappearance of four Uzbek asylum seekers and one exiled opposition activist in Osh.

"We are not able to provide complete protection to these people, so we're trying to get them out of Osh because five people have already disappeared in less than two months. It cannot continue like this," Caux said.

On August 23, asylum seekers Bakhtiyor Ahmedov and Ilhom Abdunabiev disappeared shortly after visiting the Osh offices of the Kyrgyz State Committee on Migration and Employment.

Another two asylum seekers, Valijon Bobojonov and Saidullo Shokirov, disappeared last week. Rights activists believe they were secretly taken to neighboring Uzbekistan.

Last month, an activist for an opposition party, Isroil Holdorov, also mysteriously disappeared.

Uzbek authorities deny any involvement in the disappearances. The Kyrgyz government has not commented.

An estimated 500 Uzbeks who fled a government crackdown in Andijon in May 2005 are believed to be living among the predominantly ethnic Uzbek population in southern Kyrgyzstan.