2010 South Kyrgyzstan ethnic clashes

2010 South Kyrgyzstan riots
Part of 2010 Kyrgyzstan crisis
Location Kyrgyzstan: Osh, Jalal-Abad Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Kyrgyz community	Uzbek community
Casualties and losses
	24-700 (Jalal-Abad)
official figures: 138 killed, 1,623 injured, +75,000 refugees and displaced unofficial figures: more than 1000 killed

The 2010 south Kyrgyzstan riots are ongoing clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan, primarily in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad. The violence began on 9 June in Osh with the majority Kyrgyz rioting through the streets attacking minority Uzbeks and burning property. By 12 June the violence had spread to Jalal-Abad, requiring the interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva to declare a state of emergency in an attempt to take control of the situation. So far 124 people have been killed, over 1,500 injured and 100,000 displaced, of which at least 45,000 have fled into neighboring Uzbekistan.

Causes

The relationship between ethnic Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbek communities in southern Kyrgyzstan has been historically difficult. The Uzbeks are playing a leading role in the local economy, especially in trade and services, and more recently also in agriculture (the share of Uzbeks in the rural population is growing due to the influx of migrants from the overpopulated Fergana valley). At the same time, Kyrgyzstani cities have received a mass influx of young ethnic Kyrgyz from rural areas who, unable to find work and permanent housing, are involved in criminal gangs. Decisions about ethnic problems are not taking place at the government level, as their very existence is not recognized and, moreover, virtually all administrative positions are held by ethnic Kyrgyz.

Outbreak

The outbreak of the violence may have been caused by rumors of the rape and murder of several Uzbek students in a dormitory of the Osh State University. Another version of the background of the outbreak states that, on the night of 10 June ethnic Uzbeks at a disco killed ethnic Kyrgyz. According to a third version of the background, a fight between ethnic Uzbeks and ethnic Kyrgyz began near the town mosque. Earlier in the day the unrest began (10 June) it was reported that ethnic Kyrgyz traders had not visited the market and had not opened trade in their marketplaces in Osh.

Course of events

Between 9 June and 10 June 2010, rioting in the city of Osh between ethnic Kyrgyz and the minority Uzbek population resulted in at least 46 people dead and 637 injured, many seriously. Gunfire was reported throughout the day in the southern cities and a state of emergency was declared, resulting in the deployment of military units to restore law and order.

On 12 June, Kyrgyzstan's interim government asked Russia to help quell ethnic fighting, claiming the army and police had lost control. Moscow said it cannot get involved at this stage because the crisis is an internal affair of Kyrgyzstan. Thousands of ethnic Uzbeks are trying to cross into Uzbekistan, with an official estimate of at least 30,000 trying to cross. Other sources place this figure as high as 75,000. One child was crushed to death at the border. The death toll climbed to 77 with another 1,000 injured. Human rights groups claim the casualties may be much higher as ethnic Uzbeks are afraid to seek medical treatment. Violence also was reported in Jalal-Abad where a university was burned, a police station attacked and several military weapons and an armoured vehicle stolen by rioters.

Uzbek refugees claim that people are being shot at from armoured personnel carriers, making way for armed gangs of ethnic Kyrgyz.

The Kyrgyz interim government passed a decree declaring a partial mobilization of the civilian reservists. On 13 June, Kyrgyz recruitment offices are scheduled to begin registering the reservists.

June 12 and 13, the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed its deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation and called on the Kyrgyz authorities to do everything in their power to protect their citizens, restore order and ensure respect for the rule of law.

By June 14, the official death toll stood at 124, with more than 1,685 injured.

Victims

Unofficial sources report "thousands" killed, several thousands wounded and tens of thousands of refugees. These figures are higher than official data as authorities count only those who died in hospitals. According to sources from the ethnic Uzbek community, at least 700 ethnic Uzbeks were killed in Jalal-Abad, where clashes were less intense than in Osh. The killings were performed with fearsome cruelty—many victims were raped and burned alive. Armed gangs tried to prevent wounded to recieve any first aid; in Jalal-Abad the crowd attacked the hospital where the wounded received treatment. The violence was facilitated by neglect from local police and military; some sources even claim that the local military actively participated in ethnic clashes and looting. At least five policemen were reported to have been killed during the clashes.

See also

• Osh riots (1990)