Freedom of Eurasia reports that Karakalpak activist Tleubike Yuldasheva, who is seeking asylum in Kazakhstan, has informed us that she has recently noticed surveillance near her residence. The surveillance was conducted from a car with Uzbek state license plates, specifically from the Karakalpakstan region.
Yuldasheva also reported that a few days ago, five individuals—two Uzbek, two Karakalpak, and one Kazakh—visited Yuldasheva’s friend at work. Visitors questioned the person about Tleubike’s address and left when the friend stated he did not have the information. Later, this friend received a message on social media from someone claiming to be Captain Bilolov, demanding Yuldasheva’s address. The message included the friend’s personal details as well as of his family members, raising serious concerns about their safety and privacy. Captain Bilolov also claimed that Yuldasheva would soon be extradited to Uzbekistan to serve her sentence.
Considering that Kazakhstan’s migration service and the courts of first and second instance have denied asylum to Tleubike Yuldasheva and other Karakalpak activists, namely Raisa Kudaybergenova, Zhaneldi Zhaksymbetov, and Ziuar Mirmanbetova, there is a real risk that the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan will also uphold the denial. If this happens, the activists will no longer have protection from extradition and could be sent back to Uzbekistan at any moment.
Previously, Freedom of Eurasia reported on the charges under the Criminal Code against Tleubike Yuldasheva, Raisa Kudaybergenova, Zhangeldi Zhaksymbetov, Koshkarbai Toremuratov, Aqylbek Muratov and Ziuar Mirmanbetova. We also highlight that Uzbekistan has a history of abducting activists seeking asylum in other countries. For example, Karakalpak activist Zhumasapar/Jumasapar Dadebaev, of Turkmen origin, was kidnapped by Uzbek special services from Turkey in 2022, despite being an asylum seeker at the time. Five days after the abduction, it was revealed that Dadebaev was in Uzbekistan, where he was sentenced to 12 years and is now being held in a high-security prison, Colony No. 11 in Navoi. Dadebaev has repeatedly been a victim of torture and mistreatment, and the investigation and court proceedings in his case were conducted with procedural violations. Dadebaev’s case highlights the brutal reality these activists are facing.
Freedom for Eurasia urges Kazakhstan and the international community to take immediate action to protect Tleubike Yuldasheva and other Karakalpak activists who are at risk of extradition to Uzbekistan.
