After completing her master’s degree, Yusupova had two choices: either to continue working at an international organisation such as the UNDP or start her own business. She chose the latter.

The Uzbek government, historically very wary of the spread of radicalism from Afghanistan, offered conflicting reports last week about incidents involving an alleged collision between an Uzbek MiG-29 and a fleeing Afghan military plane.

The United States, along with allies close to Georgia, issued a statement via its mission to the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.

Kyrgyzstan's National Security Committee, the GKNB, said that Askar Akayev had been "delivered" to the capital Bishkek.