Czech news agency CTK
November 30

zbek dissident Mohammad Solih, currently detained in Prague on Interpol's initiative, has asked for political asylum in the Czech Republic, Solih's lawyer Miroslava Kohoutova told CTK today. She however declined to disclose the reason for the application, saying that it was a part of Solih's defence in court.

According to Kohoutova, original documents on Solih's alleged criminal activities in Uzbekistan must arrive from Uzbekistan within 40 days. Unless they come by that time, Solih will be released on the 41st day. If they come, the state attorney will decide on whether Solih's extradition to Uzbekistan is admissible, Kohoutova said. The possible extradition would be decided on by a court.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesman told CTK that Solih had been granted political asylum in Norway two years ago.

Kohoutova confirmed this information quoting a letter sent to her by deputy director for relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. According to the letter, Solih arrived in Norway from Turkey in April 1999. At the request of the UN high commissioner for refugees in Norway he obtained political asylum and Norwegian travel documents. He has been living in Norway since then, the letter says.

However, according to Interpol, which had announced an international search for Solih on the basis of a request from Uzbekistan, Solih is just waiting for asylum in Norway.

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