Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Greg Hands (Conservative). It was answered by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 November 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Andijan Massacre

Question: If he will make a statement on the steps that the United Kingdom has taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Andijan massacre in Uzbekistan on 13 May.

Answer: We have been at the forefront of efforts to establish what happened in Andijan on 13 May. Our ambassador and his embassy team have visited the area, spoken to eyewitnesses and met NGOs. Our ambassador has spoken repeatedly to the Uzbek Government. We remain as convinced as ever of the need for a credible, external inquiry. That is why, under our presidency, the European Union has adopted a series of new measures against the Uzbek Government, including an arms embargo and a targeted visa ban.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 438 c712; 23244
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Lead
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Arms trade Human rights Politics and government Violence Sanctions EU external relations Oppression Uzbekistan
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk