LithuaniaThe reply of Lithuania highlights of the way in which diplomatic assurances in Europe provide an opportunity for other governments to exploit the same loophole in order to justify transfers of asylum seekers and terrorism suspects to risk of torture. As the Lithuanian authorities note, in June 2005, the government of Kyrgyzstan relied upon diplomatic assurances to transfer Uzbek refugees allegedly involved in the May 2005 Andijan events to Uzbekistan where they certainly faced a grave risk of torture and other ill-treatment given Uzbekistan’s long history of systematic torture.15 The fate of the men is unknown, despite promises by the Uzbek authorities that the men would be monitored by an independent organization for ill-treatment after their return. 15 Human Rights Watch Press Release, “Kyrgyzstan: Do Not Trade refugees for Empty Promises,” January 12, 2006, [online] http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/12/kyrgyz12404.htm (retrieved March 19, 2006). |