Tortures

Rights Watchdog Condemns 'Forcible Return' Of Uzbeks From Russia

Amnesty International is accusing Moscow of "lending a helping hand" to torture in Uzbekistan by aiding in the forcible returns of hundreds of Uzbek nationals from Russia.

In a new report released on April 21, the rights watchdog says hundreds of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant workers have been deported or abducted in forced returns to Uzbekistan, where they have been subjected to torture by Uzbek authorities.

The group says Russia has cooperated despite the "clear risks" of torture upon these individuals' return.

In the report, Fast-Track To Torture: Abductions And Forcible Returns From Russia To Uzbekistan, Amnesty says that in the rare cases when Moscow denied Tashkent's extradition requests, Uzbek security forces were allowed to abduct wanted Uzbek nationals from Russia.

John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's director for Europe and Central Asia, called on Moscow to put an end to such "abductions and deportations, which violate its human rights obligations."