| 2010 Kyrgyz revolution | |
|---|---|
Looting of the White House in Bishkek, 7 April 2010 |
|
| Location | Kyrgyzstan |
| Date | 6 April, 2010 - 14 December, 2010 |
| Result |
Removal and exile of president Kurmanbek Bakiyev. |
The 2010 Kyrgyz revolution began in April 2010 with the ousting of Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev in the capital Bishkek. It was followed by increased ethnic tension involving the Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country, which escalated in June 2010. The violence ultimately led to the consolidation of a new parliamentary system in Kyrgyzstan, and according to many international observers the first truly free elections to be held in the country, and in greater Central Asia.
The killings of Uzbeks in the riots have been called "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing" by the UN and international media.[1][2] The Uzbek minority was targeted by assailants of the Kyrgyz ethnicity, as evidenced by survivors and field reports of the media. Approximately 100,000 Uzbeks and Tajiks – mainly women, elder people and children fleeing the violence – found refuge in Uzbekistan and some 400,000 became internally displaced.[3] Victims interviewed by media and aid workers testify to mass killing, gang rape and torture.[4] Then-head of the Interim government Roza Otunbayeva indicated that the death toll is tenfold higher than was previously reported, which brings the number of the dead to 2,000 people.
Contents |
On 6 April 2010, a demonstration in Talas by opposition leaders protested against government corruption and increased living expenses. The protests turned violent and spread nationwide. On 7 April 2010, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev imposed a state of emergency. Police and special services arrested many opposition leaders. In response protesters took control over the internal security headquarters (former KGB headquarters) and a state TV channel in the capital, Bishkek. Reports by Kyrgyzstan government officials indicated that 88 people were killed and 458 hospitalized in bloody clashes with police in the capital.[5] Bakiyev resigned on April 15 and left the country for Belarus.
By April 18, Bakiyev supporters seized a regional government office in the south of the country, after appointing their own governor, Paizullabek Rahmanov. Some 1,000 people gathered in the southwestern town's main square on April 19, denouncing the interim government and chanting pro-Bakiyev slogans. Some of them gave out flyers calling for the former president's return to the country. Different rallies also took place on that day in neighboring Osh and Batken provinces. In addition, the interim government's appointment of a new mayor of Kyzyl-Kiya in Batken Province sparked protests in the town. The protesters prevented an official from entering her office on April 19.[6]
In Bishkek, upwards of a thousand stone-throwing men rioted in Bishkek suburbs to try to seize land from ethnic Russians and Meskhetian Turks on April 19. As a result at least five people were killed and thirty more injured.[7][8] On April 19, a crowd of youths tried to seize land in Mayevka and clashed with the local residents. In the ensuing riot, several houses were looted and set on fire, while gunfire was exchanged between the villagers. Many residents were forced to flee the village. Otunbayeva said the government would be "resolute in cracking down on looting, mayhem and arson and mete out severe punishment for those breaching the law."[9] She had reportedly given orders for security officers to use "deadly force" on rioters that threatened her fledgling government's grip on power.[10]
On 22 April 2010, it was announced that a constitutional referendum, in order to reduce presidential powers and "strengthen democracy," would be held on 27 June 2010; a general elections would then follow on 10 October 2010.[11]
On 13 May 2010, numerous government buildings were stormed by supporters of the ex-president in Jalal-Abad, Batken and Osh, forcing the interim governor of Jalal-Abad to flee.[12] On May 14 conflicting reports emerged of deaths of pro-Bakiev supporters after a conflict with interim government forces in Jalal-Abad, with pro-Bakiev groups reporting 8 dead, whilst the Kyrgyz Health Ministry reporting 65 injured, 15 of them critically with one of the critically injured dying the next day.[13]
On 19 May 2010, pro-Bakiev supporters clashed with supporters of local Uzbek leader Kadyzhan Batyrov in the southern city of Jalal-Abad, accusing him of allowing his followers to use guns on pro-Bakiev protestors on May 13. Fighting intensified near the University of Peoples' Friendship resulting in the death of at least two people and 16 further injuries. Later that day Roza Otunbayeva became the temporary president of Kyrgyzstan.[14][15] On the 31st May, Uzbekistan moved troops to its border with Kyrgyzstan due to increasing border tensions as clashes between two villages on opposite sides of the border occurred and villagers rampaged destroying roads and water pipes. Uzbek assault troops and armoured vehicles arrived on the border to prevent further clashes.[16]
On June 9 violence erupted in the southern city of Osh with ethnic Kyrgyz rioting, attacking minority Uzbeks and lighting their property ablaze. By the 12th the violence had spread to the city of Jalal-Abad. To date the violence has resulted in the deaths of 97 people, injured over a thousand and displaced nearly 75,000 people.