Kyrgyzstan: Open borders to refugees from Kyrgyzstan
Join Amnesty International's call to the governments of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to open their borders to those fleeing violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan, and to ensure that refugees are offered protection and humanitarian assistance.
UA: 138/10 Index: EUR 58/004/2010 Kyrgyzstan Date: 22 June 2010
URGENT ACTION
OPEN BORDERS TO REFUGEES FROM KYRGYZSTAN
Join Amnesty International's call to the governments of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to
open their borders to those fleeing violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan, and to ensure that refugees
are offered protection and humanitarian assistance.
As many as 400,000 people are estimated to have been forced to flee their homes following the violence that
erupted in Southern Kyrgyzstan on 10 June, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of people and left thousands
injured. Outbreaks of violence have lessened over the past few days, but despite interim government statements that
security forces have regained control, the situation remains extremely volatile and unstable.
Thousands of people, mostly women, children, and elderly people, have massed on the Kyrgyzstani side of the
border with Uzbekistan, either hoping to cross or believing that their proximity to armed Uzbekistani border guards
will offer some protection from the arson, beating, shooting and killing carried out by groups of armed men.
International aid agencies started distributing water and flour to displaced people along the border on Friday 18
June. However, humanitarian access to the most affected regions in the south continues to be limited. Eyewitnesses
report that the conditions are harsh and there are concerns for the safety, as well as the physical and psychological
health of those along the Kyrgyzstani side of the border.
About 100,000 people, mainly of Uzbek origin, have already sought refuge in Uzbekistan. However, on 14 June,
Uzbekistan ordered its borders to be closed. Some refugees are reportedly occasionally allowed to cross the border,
under certain conditions such as if they are of Uzbek ethnic origin or are residents in Osh or Jalal-Abad. On 18 June,
Kazakhstan closed its borders to all ethnic Uzbeks from Kyrgyzstan.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Russian or your own language:
Urging the authorities of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to immediately open their borders to all those
fleeing the violence in Kyrgyzstan;
Urging them to cooperate with UN agencies and international bodies to ensure the protection of refugees and
provide unhindered and unconditional access to immediate assistance to all those fleeing Kyrgyzstan, including
those still waiting to leave, in accordance with international human rights standards;
Urging them to cooperate with UN agencies and international bodies to ensure and facilitate the provision of
humanitarian aid, including shelter, food, water and medical assistance, and to permit the UNHCR to take over the
registration of refugees.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 3 AUGUST 2010 TO:
President of Uzbekistan
President Islam Karimov
Presidential Residence
Ul. Uzbekistanskaya 43
Tashkent
UZBEKISTAN
Email: presidents_office@press-
service.uz
Fax: +998 71 139 55 25
Salutation: Dear President
President of Kazakhstan
President Nursultan Nazarbayev
Ul. Levoberezhe
Astana 010000
KAZAKHSTAN
Email: sitePRK@global.kz
Salutation: Dear President
President of Tajikistan
President Emomali Rakhmon
Dom Pravitelstva
pr. Rudaki 80
734023 Dushanbe
TAJIKISTAN
Fax: +992 372 2273802 (GMT+6 and
functions during office hours)
Salutation: Dear President
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
Date: 22 June 2010
URGENT ACTION
OPEN BORDERS TO REFUGEES FROM KYRGYZSTAN
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The deadly violence which has devastated large parts of the south of Kyrgyzstan is said to have started on 10 June with clashes
between rival gangs of mostly Kyrgyz and Uzbek youths, which rapidly escalated into large-scale arson, looting and violent
attacks, including killings, on mainly Uzbek-populated districts in Osh. Subsequently, the violence spread to the city of Jalal-
Abad and surrounding towns and villages. The south of Kyrgyzstan is home to a large ethnic Uzbek community and was the power
base of former president Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was overthrown in April after a violent confrontation between government and
opposition supporters.
While the cause of the clashes is unclear, the interim government has blamed the violence on supporters of former President
Kurmanbek Bakiev and on organized criminal groups intent on destabilizing the situation in the country ahead of a referendum
on a new constitution on 27 June. Parliamentary elections are also planned for October. On 15 June, the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights stated that the violence appeared to be "orchestrated, targeted and well-planned" and that it was set off by five
simultaneous attacks by armed masked men in the city of Osh.
Unconfirmed figures suggest that over 2,500 have been killed in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad since 10 June. The interim
President Roza Otunbaeva said on 18 June that the death toll was likely to be 10 times higher than the official figures which
gave it as 190 dead. Many homes, public buildings and other property, in particular Uzbek neighbourhoods, have been destroyed
in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad and towns and villages in the region with large Uzbek populations.
UA: 138/10 Index: EUR 58/004/2010 Issue Date: 22 June 2010