U.N.: Uzbek in danger of deportation

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 30 (UPI) -- The U.N. refugee agency has appealed to Kazakhstan not to deport an Uzbek refugee who was arrested last week, reportedly at the request of Uzbekistan.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said through his spokesman Friday he has not had contact with the individual since his June 24 arrest, despite making repeated requests.

"UNHCR strongly encourages Kazakhstan to continue to adhere to international protection principles and we appeal to the government not to deport this refugee and to allow us immediate access to him," UNHCR Spokesman Ron Redmond told reporters in Geneva.

Redmond said the refugee had been permitted to contact his wife, who reported the conversation to UNHCR. The refugee told his wife the arrest had been at the request of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan would decide about his deportation within 10 days, Redmond said.

The Uzbek refugee arrived with his family in Kazakhstan in 1999, fearing religious persecution, according to Redmond. He obtained a Kazakh residence permit in 2003 and first came to UNHCR in 2005 to ask for refugee status following a visit to his house by Kazakh security agents, during which all of his family's identity documents were confiscated.

He was granted refugee status in June 2006, only after the agency had confirmed from Kazakh authorities "no criminal charges or cases had been filed against him," Redmond said.

Last year, hundreds of Uzbeks fled their country after security forces opened fire on demonstrators in the eastern city of Andijan. Since then, Uzbekistan has put strong pressure on its neighbors to return Uzbek asylum seekers and refugees.

In July 2005, Kazakhstan arrested an Uzbek human rights activist upon the request of Uzbekistan, but later released him into the care of UNHCR.