June pogroms

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2010 South Kyrgyzstan riots
Part of 2010 Kyrgyzstan crisis
Location  Kyrgyzstan: Osh, Jalal-Abad  Uzbekistan: Sokh, Sogment(Uzbekistani enclaves in Kyrgyzstan) and bordering areas in Kyrgyzstan Result Uzbek minority expulsion, Bishkek government regains partial control over southern provinces
Belligerents
Kyrgyzistani Kyrgyz gangs Pro-Bakiyev Kyrgyz[6][7] Other pro- Bakiyev forces Tajik contractors[8] Tajikstani Tajiks Russian Tajiks Other mercenaries[9] Uzbekistani Kyrgyz1 Sokh Uzbekistani Kyrgyz Sogment Uzbekistani Kyrgyz[10] Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (alleged)[11]	Kyrgyzstani Uzbeks Pro-provisional government civilians[12][13][14][15] Uzbekistani Uzbek civilians1 Sokh Uzbekistani Uzbeks[16][17] Sogment Uzbekistani Uzbeks[10]  Uzbekistan[16] (limited involv.)2[18][19]	Kyrgyz provisional government Supported by:  Russia[1] Kazakhstan[2] USA[3] PRC[4] Turkey[5]
Casualties and losses
	official figures: 893 killed,[20][21] 1,900 injured, 100,000 - 250,000 refugees (to Uzbekistan)[22][23][24] unofficial figures: more than 2,000 killed[25][26][27] 275 000 refugees and displaced[28][29]
1 Involved in Kyrgyz-Uzbek clashes within Uzbekistani enclave of Sokh and in minor skirmishes amongst Kyrgyzstani Kyrgyz on bordering areas. 2 Involved only briefly in defense of Uzbek population in Uzbekistani enclave of Sokh within Kyrgyzstan.

The June pogroms were clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan, primarily in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad, in the aftermath of the ouster of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on April 7. It is part of the larger 2010 Kyrgyzstan crisis. Violence that started between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks on 19 May in Jalal-Abad continued on 9 June in Osh. The spreading of the violence required the Russian-endorsed interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva to declare a state of emergency on June 12, in an attempt to take control of the situation. Uzbekistan launched a limited troop incursion early on, but withdrew and opened its borders to Uzbek refugees. The clashes killed up to 2,000 people, mostly Uzbeks, and another 100,000 were displaced.

The incidents allegedly came forth out of three main national divisions in Kyrgyzstan – state-citizens, North-South and Kyrgyz-Uzbek.^[30]

Contents 1 Background 2 Outbreak 3 Course of events 4 Victims 5 Possible instigators 6 Aftermath 7 See also 8 References

[edit] Background

This section requires expansion.

The Central Asians used to be divided between sedentary (Uzbeks) and nomadic (Kyrgyz) peoples.^[31] Between 1917 and the mid-1930s, the Soviet government drew national borders in Central Asia which had a rough correspondence with the main ethnic areas in the region. At the time, distinct ethnic divisions between countries and ethnic groups were not pronounced, and residents tended to view themselves as Central Asians rather than Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, or Turkmens.^[31][32][33] Ethnic tensions existed but were suppressed by the central Soviet government, which promoted ideas of common citizenship and internationalism. A resurgence of nationalist feelings took place in late 1980s and the younger generations are much more likely to identify themselves as Kyrgyz or Uzbek.^[31]

The relationship between the ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities in southern Kyrgyzstan has been historically difficult. The Uzbeks play a leading role in the local economy, especially in trade and services, and more recently also in agriculture (the proportion of Uzbeks in the rural population is growing due to the influx of migrants from the overpopulated Fergana valley). At the same time, the cities of the republic have received a mass influx of young Kyrgyz people from rural areas who, having difficulty finding work and permanent housing, are likely to become 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.^[34] Many Uzbeks say ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev favored Kyrgyz people.^[31] Many Kyrgyz in the south supported Bakiyev. Bakiyev himself is in exile in Belarus.

Bakyt Beshimov noted that after April 7 Revolution interim government was unable to control the situation in Kyrgyzstan, paving the way for major disturbances.^[35] "Ruthless" struggle for power was noted by him as a major cause.^[36]

[edit] Outbreak

In late May 2010, hundreds of residents of the Uzbek enclave of Sokh in Kyrgyzstan blocked a main highway leading to Uzbekistan, demanding greater security after several of their cars were allegedly vandalized. Uzbekistan then deployed limited military and police forces into the enclave, but they withdrew on June 3.^[37]

[edit] 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.^[38]

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.^[39] President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia and President Hu Jintao of China vowed to support Kyrgyzstan’s provisional government in restoring order.^[40][41] 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.^[42] As of June 17, no one from Kyrgyzstan's interim government had made official contact with them since refugees flooded into their country, the Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry said. Foreign Ministry officials said they were surprised and concerned that they have not had official contact with their neighbor during this crisis.^[43] One child was crushed to death at the border. The death toll climbed to 77 with another 1,000 injured.

The Kyrgyz interim government passed a decree declaring a partial mobilization of the civilian reservists. On 13 June, Kyrgyz recruitment offices began registering the reservists.^[44] The Kyrgyz government also authorized security forces to shoot to kill.^[45]

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.^[46][47]

By June 14, the toll reportedly stood at 124, with more than 1,685 injured.^[48]

In the morning June 15 the national security board chairman Alik Orozov described the situation in southern provinces as "People went insane, confront one another. The situation became uncontrollable, it's a true chaos".^[49]

On 16 June, the Washington Post reported that the violence began to subside in Jalal-Abad. However, it reported that "when residents were asked about what had happened – about why neighbors had turned against each other so suddenly and in such brutal fashion – the simmering anger between the Kyrgyz and the minority Uzbeks quickly surfaced, hinting at the continuing volatility of the situation". It also reported that Uzbek and Kyrgyz residents blame the other for the violence.^[50] Kyrgyz soldiers and police officers set up roadblocks and began patrols after the worst of the violence was over.

[edit] Victims

Unofficial sources report "thousands" killed, several thousands wounded and tens of thousands of refugees.^[25][26][51] These figures are higher than official data as authorities count only those who died in hospitals.^[52][53] 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.^[54] In Osh the clashes, according to local sources, resulted from 1526^[55] to more than 2000 deaths.^[56] Non-state media report at least 2000 killed total.^[27] Uzbek edition of Radio Freedom 15 June reports 2608 Uzbeks were killed since the beginning of clashes.^[57] In the city of Osh locals tell that there were 1170 killed Uzbeks whose bodies were taken from streets and ruins and buried by members of the Uzbek community.^[58] The killings were performed with fearsome cruelty—many victims were raped and burned alive.^[59][60] (Dead link)^[61][62] Armed gangs tried to prevent wounded to receive any first aid; in Jalal-Abad the crowd attacked the hospital where the wounded received treatment.^[63] 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.^[58][64] At least five policemen were reported to have been killed during the clashes.^[65]

It was reported that local authorities have arrested a number of Uzbek activists who were trying to make photo and video evidence of violence.^[66]

[edit] Possible instigators

Many sources, including the UN, have claimed the riots were orchestrated from outside forces.^[67] There were multiple reports of organized groups of gunmen in ski masks, believed to be from neighboring Tajikistan, shooting both Uzbeks and Kyrgyz to ignite the riots.^[68] However the head of Kyrgystan security forces has denied such claims of media.^[69]

The interim government has all along claimed that the former president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, and his connections were behind the riots, although it did not present any proof of their claim. Kyrgyz deputy Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev has also claimed that the riots were paid for with $10 million from Bakiyev’s son, Maxim Bakiyev.^[70]

Some have also claimed possible Russian involvement, but the Kremlin refused to get involved with forces even at the request of the interim government.^[71]

According to Human Rights Watch report "[the] violence in southern Kyrgyzstan began on June 10, when a large crowd of ethnic Uzbeks gathered in response to a minor fight between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in a casino in the center of Osh. Several violent attacks during the night of June 10 against ethnic Kyrgyz and the torching of several buildings enraged ethnic Kyrgyz from Osh and outside villages, thousands of whom filed into the city."^[72]

On May 14 media outlets broadcast a tapped telephone conversation between Communist Party leader Iskhak Masaliev and other politicians. They discussed organizing mass protests in southern Kyrgyzstan. The people included Bakiyev's adviser Usen Sydykov, one of the most powerful politicians in Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyzstan security forces arrested the two. Masaliev had just arrived from Moscow. The arrest fueled speculation that the Kremlin is working to produce instability.^[73][74]

Elmira Nogoybayeva, the head of the Kyrgyz Polis Asia Analytic Center, noted in May that Russia and its ally Kazakhstan launched a consistent mass media campaign to discredit the image of Kyrgyzstan.^[75] On June 14, Eurasian expert Giorgi Kvelashvili stated that Moscow's actions appeared to be part of a larger calculated plan.^[76]

Uzbekistan is concerned that Russia is using the events to consolidate its power over Central Asia, including Uzbekistan.^[77] Stratfor reported on June 13 that "the crisis has moved from being an internal Kyrgyz emergency to a confrontation between Uzbekistan and Russia. Russia has proven this past year that it is on a path of consolidation in Central Asia — of which Uzbekistan could be the toughest link in the chain to control".^[77]

[edit] Aftermath

In the Kyrgyzstani parliamentary election, 2010, the southern Ata-Zhurt party won a plurality as it campaigned to roll back the new constitution and bring Bakiyev back exile from Belarus.

Dozens of prominent Uzbek religious and community leaders were arrested by security forces following the riots, including journalist and human rights activist Azimzhan Askarov.^[78] Following a trial criticized by several international human rights organizations, Askarov was given a life sentence charges including creating mass disturbances, incitement of ethnic hatred, and complicity in murder.^[79] Various human rights organizations stated that they believe the charges against him and his co-defendants to be politically motivated,^[80] and Amnesty International considers Askarov to be a prisoner of conscience.^[81]

[edit] See also

• Osh riots (1990)
• 2010 Kyrgyzstan uprising
• 2010 Kyrgyzstan crisis

[edit] References

Coordinates: 40°56′00″N 73°00′00″E / 40.933333°N 73°E / 40.933333; 73