Russia urges Uzbeks to investigate violence
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has urged an Uzbek parliamentary panel to investigate this month’s violence in Andijan, including the alleged role of outside forces, but declined to comment on calls for an international probe.
In response to a question on calls by the United Nations, European Union, US and Nato for an international probe, Lavrov said an investigation was necessary.
He said the Uzbek panel formed to look into the Andijan events should address the causes of the violence, including “by whom, how and with whose help was organised the group of people who invaded Uzbekistan, illegally seized first a police post, then a military unit, weapons, government buildings and hostages”.
The Uzbek parliament consists entirely of pro-government MPs.
Lavrov said there was information that “outside forces” were involved in the group, and said that required careful investigation.
“We are talking about stemming the threats of international terrorism in this extraordinarily important strategic region,” Lavrov said at a news conference in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.
