Wikileaks - XXIII
- "47890","12/16/2005 13:19","05PRAGUE1732","Embassy Prague","CONFIDENTIAL","05PRAGUE1630","VZCZCXRO7906
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHPG #1732 3501319
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 161319Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6731
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0057
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 7227
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0060","C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001732
SIPDIS
PASS TO ERIC FICHTE, EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015
TAGS: PHUM, PREF, PREL, EZ, UZ
SUBJECT: NOTWITHSTANDING INTERPOL NOTICES, UZBEK REFUGEES
ARRIVE IN CZECH REPUBLIC
REF: PRAGUE 1630
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d.
1. (C) Post has learned that the 15 Uzbek refugees selected for resettlement in the Czech Republic arrived in the Czech Republic December 15 (although this information has not yet been made public).
2. (C) This number includes six refugees who are the subject of Interpol \"diffusion notices\" issued by the Uzbek government. Post understands that UNHCR, PRM, and U.S. law enforcement authorities believe the issuance of the notices was politically motivated (possibly to disrupt resettlement of the refugees), and therefore these authorities view the notices as invalid and unenforceable. After careful consideration, the Czech MOI also took this view. Pavla Fridrichova, an official in the MOI\'s Department for Asylum and Migration Policy, confirmed December 16 that the Czechs will not/not arrest the six refugees. As an Interpol member state, the Czechs will conduct pro forma extradition proceedings for the six, but do not plan to return them to Uzbekistan. Fridrichova explained extradition would violate Czech law because the six have \"recognized refugee\" status. The only exception would be if new information emerges that demonstrates any of the six is a terrorist. According to Fridrichova, the exception is only \"theoretical\" in this case.
CABANISS
