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Kremlin Defends Russians Caught in Infectious Kyrgyz Violence
By Lucian Kim
April 21 (Bloomberg) -- President Dmitry Medvedev demanded the protection of Russians in Kyrgyzstan as the leader of neighboring Uzbekistan warned that instability may infect other Central Asian states.
Medvedev yesterday ordered Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to take measures to protect Russian citizens and property as incidents of looting increase, the Kremlin said on its Web site. Earlier, Medvedev met Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who warned the unrest may spread in the region.
The Kyrgyz opposition ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in a violent uprising this month in which as many as 85 people died. The provisional government of Roza Otunbayeva, recognized by Russia and the U.S., is struggling to maintain order. Five people were killed and 30 injured in rampages by looters outside the capital Bishkek, broadcaster Rossiya-24 reported last night.
Theres a serious danger that whats happening in Kyrgyzstan will take on a permanent character, Karimov said. The illusion is created that its easy to overthrow any lawfully elected government.
Russia and the U.S. have air bases in the former Soviet republic, which underwent its second popular uprising in five years. More than 12 percent of the Kyrgyz population, or almost 700,000 people, are ethnic Russians, according to the CIAs World Factbook.
Deep Concern
The U.S. relies on the Manas air base outside Bishkek to support operations in Afghanistan after Uzbekistan evicted the American military from its Karshi-Khanabad airfield in 2005. Russia sent 150 paratroopers to reinforce its Kant air base during the April 8 uprising, RIA Novosti reported at the time.
Russia changed legislation after its 2008 war with Georgia, providing for the military to protect Russian citizens living outside the countrys borders.
Valentin Vlasov, Russias ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, voiced deep concern about continuing violence on Rossiya-24. The embassy supports an appeal by the Russian community to the provisional government to prevent ethnic conflict, Vlasov said.
Karimov, the first Central Asian leader to visit Moscow since the Kyrgyz unrest, has guarded his independence against Russian attempts at closer integration. While Uzbekistan belongs to the Moscow-based Collective Security Treaty Organization, it isnt participating in the groups rapid-reaction force to fight drug trafficking and Islamic extremists.
Kyrgyzstans first popular uprising in 2005 became a precedent for this years uprising, Karimov said. The Tulip Revolution was followed two months later by the Uzbek government clampdown in the eastern city of Andijan, which New York-based Human Rights Watch called a massacre.
Uzbekistan kicked out the U.S. military after the Bush administration led international calls for an investigation into the crackdown.
--Editor: Chris Kirkham
To contact the reporter on this story: Lucian Kim in Moscow at lkim3@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Kirkham at ckirkham@bloomberg.net.
Kremlin Defends Russians Caught in ?Infectious? Kyrgyz Violence - BusinessWeek
By Lucian Kim
April 21 (Bloomberg) -- President Dmitry Medvedev demanded the protection of Russians in Kyrgyzstan as the leader of neighboring Uzbekistan warned that instability may infect other Central Asian states.
Medvedev yesterday ordered Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to take measures to protect Russian citizens and property as incidents of looting increase, the Kremlin said on its Web site. Earlier, Medvedev met Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who warned the unrest may spread in the region.
The Kyrgyz opposition ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in a violent uprising this month in which as many as 85 people died. The provisional government of Roza Otunbayeva, recognized by Russia and the U.S., is struggling to maintain order. Five people were killed and 30 injured in rampages by looters outside the capital Bishkek, broadcaster Rossiya-24 reported last night.
Theres a serious danger that whats happening in Kyrgyzstan will take on a permanent character, Karimov said. The illusion is created that its easy to overthrow any lawfully elected government.
Russia and the U.S. have air bases in the former Soviet republic, which underwent its second popular uprising in five years. More than 12 percent of the Kyrgyz population, or almost 700,000 people, are ethnic Russians, according to the CIAs World Factbook.
Deep Concern
The U.S. relies on the Manas air base outside Bishkek to support operations in Afghanistan after Uzbekistan evicted the American military from its Karshi-Khanabad airfield in 2005. Russia sent 150 paratroopers to reinforce its Kant air base during the April 8 uprising, RIA Novosti reported at the time.
Russia changed legislation after its 2008 war with Georgia, providing for the military to protect Russian citizens living outside the countrys borders.
Valentin Vlasov, Russias ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, voiced deep concern about continuing violence on Rossiya-24. The embassy supports an appeal by the Russian community to the provisional government to prevent ethnic conflict, Vlasov said.
Karimov, the first Central Asian leader to visit Moscow since the Kyrgyz unrest, has guarded his independence against Russian attempts at closer integration. While Uzbekistan belongs to the Moscow-based Collective Security Treaty Organization, it isnt participating in the groups rapid-reaction force to fight drug trafficking and Islamic extremists.
Kyrgyzstans first popular uprising in 2005 became a precedent for this years uprising, Karimov said. The Tulip Revolution was followed two months later by the Uzbek government clampdown in the eastern city of Andijan, which New York-based Human Rights Watch called a massacre.
Uzbekistan kicked out the U.S. military after the Bush administration led international calls for an investigation into the crackdown.
--Editor: Chris Kirkham
To contact the reporter on this story: Lucian Kim in Moscow at lkim3@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Chris Kirkham at ckirkham@bloomberg.net.
Kremlin Defends Russians Caught in ?Infectious? Kyrgyz Violence - BusinessWeek
