No specific information on the status of a Soviet citizen born in Uzbekistan in 1989 who emigrated to Israel in September 1991, obtained Israeli citizenship and decided to return to Uzbekistan could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Referring to the law on citizenship, the US Department of State indicates that Uzbekistan does not recognize dual citizenship (Country Reports 2001 4 Mar. 2002). Therefore, citizens of Uzbekistan automatically lose Uzbek citizenship when they acquire another citizenship (ibid.). In practice, Uzbek citizens returning to Uzbekistan must prove that they have not obtained another citizenship during their stay abroad (ibid.). There is no provision in the law on citizenship stipulating that Uzbek citizens lose their citizenship when residing outside Uzbekistan (ibid.).

According to the Travel Information Manual, Israeli nationals require a valid passport and a visa to enter Uzbekistan (Dec. 2001). For information on the procedure for obtaining a visa, please see the section on visas of the Website of the Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Frankfurt on Main at http://home.t-online.de/home/uzb-gencons/vis_ob_e.htm.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 4 March 2002. "Uzbekistan." US Department of State, Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/eur/8366.htm [Accessed 24 Feb. 2002]

Travel Information Manual (TIM). December 2001. "Uzbekistan (UZ)." Amsterdam: TIM.

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Washington, DC.

Internet sites including:

Center for Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law [Tashkent]

Central Asia and the Caucasus [Luleo, Sweden]

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute [Washington, DC]

Central Asia Monitor [Benson, VT]

Central Asian Studies World Wide

Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Frankfurt on Main

Eurasianet.org

Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS

The Jewish Agency for Israel

Jewish Bulletin of Northern California

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan [Tashkent]

Minorities at Risk Project

NCSJ [Washington, DC]

Official Website of Uzbekistan's Government

Pravo Online (Database of Uzbek Legislation)

The Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and Racism, Tel Aviv University

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ)

World News Connection (WNC)