Leaders of Kazakhstan's United Democratic Party urge Uzbek official to release Oral Saulebay

Correspondents of RFE/RL report that today, January 4, leaders of Kazakhstan's United Democratic Party (Union of Azamat, People's Congress and Republican People party) held press conference in Almaty where they openly urge Uzbek officials to release Oral Saulebay from jail. A leading member of Azat movement and Chairman of Committee on protection of Kazakh Land - Oral Saulebay has been detained by Uzbek police in Baghys village along Kazakh-Uzbek border on December 30, 2001. He is kept in Tashkent Oblast Interior Affairs Department's prison now. (See Kazakh News, January 2-3, 2002). Uzbek authorities officially accuse Mr. Saulebay of organization of unsanctioned mass gatherings and insulting dignities and honors of Kazakh and Uzbek Presidents.

Leaders of Kazakhstan's United Democratic Party told journalists today that they demanded immediate release of Oral Saulebay, the soonest gathering of two leaders - Uzbek and Kazakh Presidents, in order to negotiate the issue of the Kazakh-Uzbek border demarcation. According to leaders and activists of United Democratic Party, the problem of Baghys village had risen due to weak capability of Kazakh officials and hesitance of Uzbek officials to demarcate Kazakh-Uzbek border.

Members of so-called Committee on Liberation of Oral Saulebay (roughly 20 persons) picketed Uzbek Embassy in Almaty last night. They also demanded immediate release of Mr. Saulebay and handed their letter of protest to Chief of Uzbek Consulate at Uzbek Embassy in the former capital of Kazakhstan.