International: Academic freedom reports all-inclusive

A few hundred ethnic Uzbek students from Kyrgyzstan, who is studying in Rhea in Russia, has been plagued by the authorities. Members of the Iranian student Omit Kookaburra, who is studying for a PhD in physics at the University of Texas, is worried that he might jailed during the visit to Iran during the Christmas holidays. In Syria, a student and other detainees were tortured and beaten by security forces in the coastal town of Barnes. UK Freedom of Information laws allegedly misused to harass and intimidate climate scientists. And Swaziland student leader Maxwell Lamina is held by the authorities since 11 April and a campaign was launched to support his case.

Russia: Uzbek students face problems of Kyrgyzstan

A few hundred ethnic Uzbek students from southern Kyrgyzstan, graduated in Rhea in Russia, is facing problems with the authorities, Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, reported on 12 May.

The ethnic Uzbek students - 250 boys and 17 girls - from the southern regions of Os and Urgent Kyrgyzstan arrived last September in Rhea to study at an agricultural college. They encountered problems with the authorities since the beginning of the academic year.

First, they accused the Rhea Mayor's Office of illegally staying on Russian soil. They also particularly targeted by fire inspectors and tax police.

According Saliva Shapiro, a Russian cosmonaut of Kyrgyzstan origin who helped them during the application process, the Uzbek students are bribed by local authorities.

Earlier this month, the students asked to leave their dormitories, the official explanation given by the threat of fire. But only the Uzbek students were asked to leave the building. After a week stay in college buildings, including classrooms and the gymnasium, the students were allowed to return to their dormitories.

Despite the difficulties faced by Uzbek students, Shapiro said they had the generosity of the local people and college teachers who offered them food and clothing benefit. Many of the students who violent clashes between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz fled in southern regions of Kyrgyzstan's last June are orphans and suffer from poor health.