Foreign students and Kyrgyz group clash in Kyrgyzstan

Twenty-nine people were injured in incidents that broke out in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, after footage of a brawl between foreign students and a Kyrgyz group spread on social media.

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Foreign students and Kyrgyz group clash in Kyrgyzstan

According to a statement by the Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Internal Affairs, a brawl occurred between a group of Kyrgyz individuals and a group of foreign students in the eastern part of the city on May 13.

The Kyrgyz youths who followed the foreign students fleeing the brawl arrived in front of the hotel where the students were staying, and the fight continued in front of the hotel. After footage of the fight between the two groups was shared on social media, hundreds of Kyrgyz gathered in front of the hotel last night and caused disturbances.

A large number of police officers dispatched to the area dispersed the crowd, reported that 3 foreigners involved in the incident were apprehended, and stated that the protesters dispersed toward morning. The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Health announced that 29 people were slightly injured in the incidents.

"THERE ARE NEARLY 5 THOUSAND ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS"

Kamchybek Tashiev, Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, stated in his remarks that 700 people between the ages of 18 and 25 gathered on one of the city's central streets yesterday.

Stating that the anger of those gathered stemmed from the rapidly increasing number of citizens from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and India, Tashiev said, “We had started taking measures due to the increase in the number of immigrants from the aforementioned countries. Our President had given instructions to review the responsibility of citizens who are in the country illegally.”

Stating that they carried out active operations in April and May, Tashiev said, “Every day, we identify 20-30 foreigners staying in the country illegally. In general, citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh are found to be illegal. We have deported 1,500 Pakistani and 1,000 Bangladeshi citizens. At the same time, there are nearly 5 thousand foreigners staying in the country illegally,” he said.

"WE WILL TAKE STRICT MEASURES"

Noting that the police did not intervene in the events but that they would take measures if public order is violated, Tashiev said, “We find the demands of those who gathered yesterday to be correct to a certain extent, but if there is a violation of public order and a threat to the country, then we will take strict measures.”

Pointing out that there were some provocateurs among those gathered, Tashiev said, “These have been identified and will soon be detained and prosecuted. They tried to spread various provocative messages using their phones, called for anti-state actions, and opposed the current state system. There were also armed men among them; they have all been detained and will be punished.”

"THE NEWS IS FALSE"

In a written statement made by the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan regarding yesterday's events, “attempts to incite inter-ethnic violence and unrest through the spread of false information on social media” were strongly condemned. The statement said, “Reports in the international press regarding alleged murders and acts of violence against foreign students are false.” It was also stated that law enforcement agencies have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident and that all perpetrators will be identified and punished in accordance with the law.

'PROTEST NOTE' FROM PAKISTAN TO KYRGYZSTAN

In a statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, it was stated that a protest note was delivered to the Charge d'Affaires of Kyrgyzstan. The statement said, “It was emphasized to the Kyrgyz Charge d'Affaires that the Kyrgyz government must take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani students and citizens.”

The statement added, “The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Health confirmed that 4 Pakistanis were given first aid and discharged, and the treatment of 1 Pakistani is ongoing.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his concern over the incident and said that they would immediately bring back Pakistani citizens who want to leave Kyrgyzstan.