On the night of May 17-18, Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, witnessed a violent outbreak resulting in 28 injuries, including three foreigners.
The unrest primarily targeted foreign students and migrants, prompting significant diplomatic responses from both Pakistan and India.
The violence was triggered by a viral video allegedly depicting a confrontation between Kyrgyz students and medical students from Egypt on May 13.
This video incited mobs across Bishkek, fueled by social media rumors that the victims were Kyrgyz youth, despite the lack of evidence, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Riot police intervened to contain the situation, cordoning off areas where mobs had gathered, and online videos showed attacks on foreign students in the streets and dormitories.
Impact on Indian and Pakistani students
Indian and Pakistani students were among those affected by the violence. Muhammad Ihtisham Latif, a Pakistani medical student in Bishkek, recounted his ordeal to RFE/RL: “The situation is dire here.
It all started when Egyptian students clashed with locals, leading to protests and attacks on Indian and Pakistani students. They were pursued into their hostels and homes, with hostel doors being broken. I am currently confined in the university with other students, sharing my story with you.”
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as a popular choice for students from South Asia seeking top-notch medical education. The Migration Data Portal reported that Kyrgyzstan welcomed the largest number of international students (61,418) in 2021 among the five Central Asian nations.
Currently, around 14,500 Indian and 10,000 Pakistani students are pursuing their studies in Kyrgyzstan, enticed by the affordable cost of living, access to Indian cuisine, favorable student-teacher ratios, and globally recognized medical qualifications.
Reactions from India and Pakistan
Following the unrest, Indian and Pakistani diplomatic missions in Bishkek issued advisories to their respective students. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged students to stay in touch with the embassy, assuring that the situation in Bishkek was now calm.
The Indian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan also released a statement, highlighting the swift actions taken by law enforcement to apprehend those responsible, regardless of nationality. The statement confirmed that the situation was under control, with no major injuries reported among the affected individuals.
The response from the Kyrgyz government
The Kyrgyz government has declared its intention to thoroughly investigate the violence and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
However, the government has also acknowledged the issue of illegal migration and has taken decisive actions to combat it, including the expulsion of undesirable individuals from Kyrgyzstan.
Kamchybek Tashiev, the head of the State Committee on National Security (UKMK) in Kyrgyzstan, has stated that a group of 500-700 local citizens, aged between 18 and 25, gathered to protest against the increasing number of migrants working in the country.
Tashiev emphasized the challenges posed by illegal immigration, particularly from Pakistan and Bangladesh, and highlighted the government’s efforts to identify and expel illegal migrants on a daily basis.
The underlying migrant issues in Kyrgyzstan
The violence in Bishkek is indicative of deeper tensions surrounding the influx of migrants in Kyrgyzstan. The country has been grappling with a significant number of migrants from South Asia and Russia, which has led to growing frustrations among the local population.
Kyrgyzstan’s reputation as a preferred destination for international students, especially for medical training, has further contributed to the cultural and social dynamics within the nation.
While international students bring various benefits, such as economic contributions and cultural exchange, concerns among the local population regarding job competition and social integration have occasionally sparked unrest. The Kyrgyz government’s focus on expelling illegal migrants is an attempt to address these tensions, although it also runs the risk of fueling xenophobic sentiments.
