Further involvement of the British state in the callous ruining of lives today. Mikel and Nina Malyshev have been taken to Yarlswood Detention Centre and will be deported to probable imprisonment and torture in Uzbekistan on Friday 21 October.
The Home Office continues to insist in asylum cases that there is no human rights problem in Uzbekistan. But no serious authority outside government doubts that Uzbekistan is one of the worst human rights abusers in the world. Unfortunately the lives of Mikel and Nina Malyshev are to be sacrificed to the British government’s agreement with the Karimov regime to provide transit for supplies to the British military in Afghanistan.
It is noticeable that, since the current British government came to power, no government minister or official, nor the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, has made a single reference to Uzbekistan’s terrible human rights abuses, including over 10,000 political prisoners, absolutely no free media or assembly, banning of all opposition parties, millions of children used as forced slave labour and torture and extra-judicial killing on a massive scale.
In fact such is the British government’s enmity towards the people of Uzbekistan I am afraid that Mikel and Nina will be sacrificed without a thought. They have been living around Swansea for years as valued members of the local community. They have not claimed state benefits and have done much voluntary work. Nina’s daughter is today in labour, brought on early by her mother’s detention. The total number of Uzbek asylum seekers in the UK is in the low dozens, escaping the cruelest regime on earth. I understand and share indignation at fake asylum seekers, but we should be deeply ashamed at our vicious attitude to genuine cases like this.
Please send messages to your own MP, to William Hague and to Teresa May, via this website. You may help save a life.
You may also wish to send a message to their own MP, Hywell Francis, who yesterday refused to help, saying “Haven’t I done enough already?” Not just cruel but lazy with it.
Hillary Clinton starts an official visit to Karimov on Sunday to mark the resumption of US arms supplies to Uzbekistan, which were suspended after the massacre of 800 pro-democracy demonstrators in Andijan in 2005.
Uzbek in UK, you make a case for not sending Uzbek emigrants back to Uzbekistan, i.e., that merely by leaving and then being compelled to return, they will surely be victimized by the Uzbek state. But is there evidence to support this argument? And if so, what exactly does this victimization consist in? Imprisonment? Torture? Denial of work? A fine? If any of these things, there must be examples that can be cited as evidence.
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CM does not tell us why Mikel and Nina Malyshev left Uzbekistan in the first place, which makes judging their position difficult. Were they opportunistic economic migrants, or were they fleeing some actual persecution?
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Perhaps it endangers them to be specific about the details of their lives, but surely it is possible to give details of some specific case, so that one can form an idea of the situation that these people face.
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Also one would like to know what the British Government does in such cases, if anything, to follow up to ensure that returned refugee claimants are not abused on their return to Uzbekistan.
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One wonders, also, why these people went to Britain in the first place. Why not Canada, where, if they are as independent and as honest as indicated and if they have a valid reason for fleeing their homeland, they would surely have gained refugee immigrant status.
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In a broader context, the problem of dealing with Uzbekistan as though it were a civilized place arises because we are at engaged in a war for global hegemony. So long as that war continues, I do not see how Britain can avoid dealing with Uzbekistan on the assumption or pretense that it is a civilized place, for Uzbekistan occupies a piece of territory that the global hegemon must control.
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Oddly though, CM is reluctant to indicate the alternative to the war for global empire. He disapproves of Britain’s participation in NATO, which is now closely coordinated with the US in the War for global control, but he has declined to specify an alternative security arrangement for Britain.
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But one must chose. If Britain is not to depend on US/NATO for security, then on what? Should it be the EU with a unified military command, i.e., under German leadership, or Swiss-style national self reliance? There seem to be no other options, unless Britain is to employ what was once proposed by a political party in the Netherlands: a telephone answering machine at the foreign office with the recorded message “we surrender.”
Whatever the reason they left Uzbekistan is not irrelevant. What is relevant and I can assure you that if they are sent back as failed assylum seekers they will be prosecuted and UK government will not be able to do anything about it. Mr Murray has visited few court hearings in Uzbekistan and I am sure that if he is involved then these people genuinly need help.
Canspeccy
For evidence as to what happens to returning refugees in Uzbekistan – please look at the Amnesty International reports on their website, even if you don’t want to believe the accounts og Craig and Uzbek in the UK. They will also make clear why we can do little to ensure the safety of any returned asylum seeker in Uzbekistan.
Even if it is in our stratgic interest to maintain a relationship between the UK and Uzbekistan that doesn’t me we have to kow tow to Karimov – believe me he needs us a lot more than we need him, if only to maintain the lavish lifestyle of him and his family.
“hey will be prosecuted and UK government”
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For what?
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Leaving the country without an exit visa, penalty $5.00?
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Or treason, penalty to be boiled alive?
Craig Murray has demonstrated the nature of the regime in Uzbekistan. He wrote a book on the subject. I am sure – and I trust Craig (and Uzbek-in-the-UK) on this – that Craig would not be protesting this matter if the couple were to be subject merely to a £5 visa penalty by the hideous Karimov regime. I agree with Stephen, Craig and Uzbek-in-the-UK on this; since this matter involves the migration of two people from another country to Britain, in typical fashion, Alfred (‘Canadian Spectator’) seems to be suggesting otherwise. Perhaps Craig should send them to you, Alfred, since as you outlined in previous threads, Victoria, BC is such a wonderfully multiracial place, full of immigrants and their attractive descendants.
Uzbek,
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Regarding your second post on this string, do you have any further information about the postiions of Russia and China re Uzbekistan?
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Thanks
“Craig would not be protesting this matter if the couple were to be subject merely to a £5 visa penalty”
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Oh, I see. If Craig said it, it must be true. Except he didn’t say it.
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What I asked was, what was the prosecution that these people would face. No one has said anything about that, which is why I asked.
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As for the rest of your driveling comment SS, do try to contain your Anglophobic racist hate.
As someone who knows Uzbekistan and its bloody regime i can say the Malyshevs may not be subject to too much scrutiny by uzbek security services as would any other muslims be, unless mr and mrs Malyshev are members of opposition party called Erk. In some sense i should agree with Arsalan in saying that for mr Karimov any practicingi muslim is much more dangerous than a group of opposition party members or other dissidents. Karimov is a mere Islam hater although his name is Islam. For him and his security services a practicing muslim is enemy of state. I have never seen muslims running from predominantly muslim country to avoid prosecutions against them except for Uzbekistan. I would add to Arsalan following words: people are not born zionists these days they are becoming zionists.
“Anglophobic racist hate” Alfred.
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Uhm… how on earth might one surmise that from what I wrote? I don’t hate people, Alfred, especially not based on what nationality they are or skin colour they have.
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And yes, I do trust Craig. Don’t you? if not, why not? On what basis might you mistrust Craig Murray?
@ Voila
“I have never seen muslims running from predominantly muslim country to avoid prosecutions against them except for Uzbekistan.”
I’m afraid you just haven’t looked close enough.
I also know enough about Uzbekistan to know that Karimov’s paranoia and hate expands way beyond practising Moslems – just ask many of the ethnic Russians who were driven out of the Country.
Absolutely, Stephen, there are plenty of Muslims, Christians and others who seek asylum from prosecution or worse in their own countries. I mean, I thought that was common knowledge.
Why is Sir Stephen Lander (ex DG of MI5) involved in the SIAC deportation case of Katia Zatuliveter ?
By wtwuon September 27, 2011 9:32 PM
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The Daily Mail (on Sunday) recently reported:
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Conflict of interest row as ex-MI5 chief rules on fate of Russian ‘spy’, accused of using her job in Parliament to snoop on Britain
By Robert Verkaik 25th September 2011
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A former head of MI5 is at the centre of a row over his role in deciding whether a young Russian woman accused of using her job in Parliament to spy on Britain should be sent back to her home country.
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Sir Stephen Lander, the former director-general of the security service, is to sit on a panel of judges who will rule on whether Katia Zatuliveter should be deported.
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Miss Zatuliveter, 25, who worked for Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock, was arrested last year, reportedly on the orders of MI5.
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Sir Stephen was once responsible for combating Russia’s spy threat and his appointment to the special immigration panel to hear Miss Zatuliveter’s case next month has prompted accusations of bias.
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If a British citizen was facing a similar secret tribunal in a foreign country, one of whose members was the former head of their national counter-intelligence service, what would the British government do about it ?
/..
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https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/ssl/spyblog/2011/09/27/why-is-sir-stephen-lander-ex-dg-of-mi5-involved-in-the-siac-deportation-case-of.html
PS. I read today that Mike Hancock MP has resigned from the Defence Committee.
{http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15371447}
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MP Hancock quits role over ‘spy’ affair
Mr Hancock is the MP for Portsmouth South Continue reading the main story
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A Liberal Democrat MP who had an affair with an aide accused of being a Russian spy has resigned from his post on the defence select committee.
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Mike Hancock was named during the case of Katia Zatuliveter, accused of starting an affair with him because she saw him as politically influential.
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She denies spying and is fighting her deportation at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.
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Mr Hancock said the committee should be allowed to work unimpaired by the case.
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The Lib Dem MP for Portsmouth South resigned in a letter to the Lib Dems’ chief whip Alistair Carmichael, on Tuesday morning.
Stephen,
Believe me ethnic russians in uzbekistan are much better off than indigineous muslim population. Karimov’s wife is half russian and half, well, self declared “chosen” ethnicity, if you know who i mean. The whole business, cotton sale, gold, gas and uranium operations are in the hands of the family. The uzbek first lady controls and manipulates with her husband’s position. And guess what, she does not speak uzbek, neither do daughters, potential candidates for ruling in uzbekistan. Go to any government office in Tashkent or uzbek embassies overseas you will come across with russian beauracrats or russified uzbeks.
Yarl’s Wood sounds pretty grim
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarl%27s_Wood_Immigration_Removal_Centre
I can’t find any info about this case online – is there anything (apart from this)?
Baldy,
Not to my knowledge. Voila, you give the impression you don’t care about the Malyshevs because they are not Muslims. Yes Karimov viciously represses religious Muslims, but if you think they are the only epople he represses you are very wrong – and he has returned to his anti-russian kick recently.
How Hywel Francis voted on key issues since 2001 (from @theyworkforyou.com):
Voted strongly for a stricter asylum system.
Voted very strongly for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests.
Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war.
Voted very strongly for introducing ID cards.
Voted very strongly for Labour’s anti-terrorism laws.
Hywel’s claimed ‘expenses’ for 2008/2009 were £161,464, making him 161st out of 647. Evidently, Hywel is less lethargic when it comes to sprinting for the trough than he is when it comes to saving Uzbek lives….. you can email this complacent oaf at:
[email protected]
I wish I was his constituent, just so that I could not vote for the bastard.
@Voila
I’m sure that my ethnic Russian friends who were driven out of Tashkent by Karimov’s thugs will be relieved to know that there were otehrs who were treated even worse.
As for governemnt offices in Tashkent, and other major cities, being full of russified Uzbeks – well I think you may find that is because those cities are full of russified Uzbeks. Anyone who has actaully been there will know that is the case. Much as you might want to reverse it – being a member of the Russian empire for so long has had an impact – and most Uzbeks have moved a long way from the fundamentalist model of Islam. Uzbekistan is not the same as Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Voila,
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You are mistaken in your thoughts that Karimov prosecutes only Muslims. It is true that he has particular fear of radical and militant Islam but his oppression does not apply to any particular ethnic or religious group but to whole Uzbekistanis.
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Canspeccy,
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Few months back former Uzbek citizen 63 years old called Yuri Korepanov has been imprisoned for 15 years in Uzbek prison charged with three criminal offences. First was that when he left Uzbekistan to Russia he left it illegally although he was given permission to leave Uzbekistan (was awarded exit visa). Second was that when he came to visit some of his relatives and friends in Uzbekistan he entered Uzbekistan with his Russian passport which he was given as he was recognised as Russian citizen years ago. Uzbekistan does not recognise dual citizenship and Korepanov was charged with citizenship offence since it is crime in Uzbekistan holding second citizenship while remaining Uzbek citizen (to add here that it is virtually impossible to give up Uzbek citizenship). Third and most serious offence was that he was branded traitor and changed for treason. Since he was military man in the past (although in his last years in Uzbekistan he was just a tutor in Military academy) he has betrayed military secrets to Russians.
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Few months later due to pressure from Putin himself Korepanov was pardoned by Karimov and released from prison but he cannot leave Uzbekistan as now Uzbek authorities do not grant him exit visa due to criminal offence.
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This might helpo you to see the wider picture of Karimov’s brutality http://nadejda-atayeva-en.blogspot.com/2011/02/absurd-verdict-uzbekistan-has-convicted.html
What does it matter whether karimov only tortured Muslims, which is obviously not the case, whats important is that this deportation is carried out against the Governments own benmchmarks, who knows, they might even have acted on behalf of the regime.
Richard Bacon MP has got my message!
Uzbeck,
for you the practicing muslims are the same as radical or militant? Can you give me definition of a muslim? Is it because smn’s name is Islam Karimov, or Salih Murad, etc? Or is it because smn practices his religion within certain rules? Can you also give me definition of radical? I have friends in Tashkent whose relatives are imprisoned to long term sentences just because they gathered and did islamic rituals together after one of their friend’s wife gave a birth to a boy.
Craig,
I did not say I do not care because they are not muslims. I said if they were muslims they would definitely get tortured without a question.
Stephen,
You will not find any ethnic russian in notorious prisons of Uzbekistan where prisoners are tortured to death by beating and boiling. That’s fact. Another note, you are almost making a racist claim by saying if you are russified then you have moved away from being undeveloped. I am russian, and believe me I have seen many uzbecks who do not speak russian, but are much more civilized and smart than some russians, english or other so called civilized paople. Pls keep your arrogant comments about others within your home.
Voila,
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Can I please bring to your attention that your spelling of the word Uzbek is incorrect.
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Where have you seen in my posts that I call all Muslims and particularly those in Uzbekistan radial or militant. Most of Uzbek Muslims (unlike Saudis or Pakistanis) practice moderate version of Sufi Islam. However; you cannot deny that there are certain radical Islamist in Uzbekistan and in Central Asia in general and most of them bring their version of Islam from abroad (the same Saudi Arabia or Pakistan). But these are in very tiny (comparatively to population) minority.
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Uzbek government, as I mentioned may times, is overreacting to the treat of militant Islam and they are doing so intentionally. After 9/11 it has become easy for Karimov and alike to brand anyone as militant radical Islamist and torture them or put them into prison. Many of those who are in Jaslyk (Nazi style prison in Karakalpakstan region) are in fact moderate Muslims but who probably at some point branded government as kafirs or agreed to the claims (mostly by Hizb ut Tahrir) that Islamic Khalifat should replace Karimov’s government.
Voila
You clearly don’t know what you are talking about and you then compound the error by saying that I made claims that I patently didn’t. Please learn to read and then do some reading on what is really going on Uzbekistan rather than repeating yopur mindless drivel.
Is Voila actually Arsalan? Arsalan, are you Voici, or Voila?
Craig, why are Mikel and Nina Malyshevs are being deported back to Uzbekistan? I tried to find out more about them and what they might have done/said but could find anything.