Czech Republic grants asylum to 15 from Uzbekistan

The Czech Republic has granted asylum to 15 people from Uzbekistan at the request of the United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR. The 15 had to leave Uzbekistan after taking part in an anti-government demonstration in the country in May.

Meanwhile, the Czech foreign minister, Cyril Svoboda, has opened a new embassy in the capital of Moldova, Chisenau. Previously, the Czech Embassy in the neighbouring state of Romania was responsible for Czech diplomatic relations in the former Soviet state.