US rights group condemns Uzbek deportation

ALMATY, Oct 26 (Reuters) U S-based Human Rights Watch condemned Russia for deporting an Uzbek man back to his Central Asian homeland and urged the European Union to step up pressure on Russia over human rights.

Russia extradited Rustam Muminov on October 24 despite an order by the European Court of Human Rights to stop his deportation.

At home, he is accused of terrorism. Rights groups say he could face torture or execution in Uzbekistan.

''This sets a dangerous precedent for all asylum seekers in Russia ... It's astounding that Russian authorities could have permitted this deportation to go forward,'' Holly Cartner, a HRW campaigner for the region, said in a statement late yesterday.

''The European Union and Russia's other international partners should demand assurances that Moscow will comply with its commitments not to send refugees or asylum seekers back to countries where they face harm.'' A court in Russia ordered Muminov's deportation due to his failure to present a Russian residency permit, his supporters said. Uzbek authorities were not available for comment.

The West has accused Uzbekistan, an authoritarian Central Asian state, of jailing thousands of dissidents and systematically using torture in prison -- an accusation denied by Uzbek officials.

''Our greatest concern is for Muminov's protection from torture or other ill-treatment,'' Cartner said. ''Russia must take immediate steps to reverse its action of placing Muminov in harm's way.'' Muminov moved to Russia in 2000 and worked as a children's cook in the town of Lipetsk, his supporters say. Uzbekistan has accused him of being a member of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, an Islamic group banned in Russia and Central Asia.

REUTERS DKB KP1854