Twelve Uzbek refugees who fled after violence in Andijon in 2005 and received asylum in the United States have returned to Uzbekistan, Press-uz.info reported on July 17, citing a source in the Uzbek Foreign Ministry. The source said the refugees appealed to the Uzbek government for help in returning home. The Foreign Ministry granted their request after determining that \"they had no involvement in the terrorist acts committed in Andijon in May 2005. It was confirmed that they had been misled and taken out of the country by means of deception.\" RFE/RL\'s Uzbek Service was able to confirm that nine Uzbek citizens who had been residing in the United States as refugees from Andijon returned to Uzbekistan. The Uzbek Embassy in Washington told RFE/RL that it purchased tickets for them to return. (RFE/RL)