The Central Asia correspondent for Forum 18 News Service, Igor Rotar, was detained for two days at the Tashkent airport before being deported from the country on August 13. The ordeal began as Rotar, a Russian citizen, arrived in Uzbekistan on August 11 and his name appeared on a list of undesirable persons by the National Security Service (NSS). Previously, he had been allowed to enter the country after border officials had contacted the NSS. This time, however, he was detained and not allowed to cross the border checkpoint. During his two-day detention, he was not allowed to contact the Russian embassy. When he asked about the reason for his detention, he was told that it was for "political reasons at the highest levels."
Two NSS agents, posing as immigration officers, attempted to force him to buy a ticket out of the country. He refused, demanding that he be allowed into the country or be officially deported. One of the "immigration officers," Andrei Andreyevich, told Rotar that he would never be allowed into Uzbekistan. "By your libelous articles you have done great harm to Uzbekistan. The Uzbek nation's patience is exhausted," Andreyevich told him.
When it was clear that Rotar would not purchase his own ticket out of Uzbekistan, he was given an official deportation order on August 13 and was put on a flight to Moscow.
Thank God for Igor Rotar's safe release. Pray that God will continue to strengthen His Church in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan remains one of the most oppressed nations in the former Soviet bloc. Pray that the voice of Uzbekistan's persecuted Christians will continue to be heard. For more information on the country and the challenges facing Christians there, click here.
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