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The EU council is trying to strike the right balance with Uzbekistan (Photo: Council)

EU calls for release of Uzbek political prisoners

EU foreign ministers have relaxed sanctions against Uzbekistan while calling for the release of political prisoners, but Europe's hopes of diversifying energy supplies through Central Asia are at risk from a new Russian deal.

The EU on Monday (14 May) took four names off a previously 12-strong list of Uzbek officials banned from entering Europe, but upheld an arms embargo on Central Asia's most powerful state. The visa list will be reviewed in six months and the arms ban in 12 months.<...

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Author Bio

Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.

The EU council is trying to strike the right balance with Uzbekistan (Photo: Council)

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Author Bio

Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.

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