Dear Honorable guests,
First of all, thank you for coming to the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for this briefing session.
Let me give the brief introduction about the incident on the night of May 18, 2024 in Bishkek with the participation of foreign citizens.
On the evening of May 13, a fight broke out between local and foreign citizens in one of the hostels in the eastern part of Bishkek. Then the police opened a criminal case under the article “Hooliganism” of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic and all participants in the brawl were taken to the police department.
On May 17, a video of the fight and injured Kyrgyz citizens was published on one of the social media pages, as a result of which on the night of May 18 in Bishkek a crowd of people gathered demanding that the foreigners be brought to justice. From the moment information about the incident was received, law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic took prompt measures to detain persons involved in the event, both foreign citizens (four Egyptian citizens) and around 10 citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Chief and 9 officers of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Sverdlovsk region were removed from their positions after riots on the night of May 18.
The situation was completely under the control of law enforcement agencies. The safety of citizens and public order were ensured. There are no seriously injured people among the participants of the incident.
At the same time, the Embassy urges representatives of the mass media not to disseminate unreliable and unverified information. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic informs that destructive forces in foreign mass media, social networks, especially in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan deliberately spread totally false information about the situation in the Kyrgyz Republic that does not correspond to reality.
The Ministry states that at present the situation in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, is absolutely calm and fully under control. All necessary measures have been taken to ensure security and maintain peace and stability. In this regard, the Embassy of Kyrgyz Republic asks representatives of the media, the blogging community and foreign colleagues to be guided only by official and verified information from the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic.
On May 18, 2024, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Almaz Imangaziev met with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Ali Zaigam at the Ministry.
During the meeting, the Pakistani side was informed about the incident involving foreign citizens and the measures taken by the law enforcement authorities of Kyrgyz Republic to suppress illegal actions and ensure public order. The Kyrgyz side also asked the Pakistani side to conduct explanatory work among representatives of the Pakistani mass media on the non-dissemination of inaccurate information on the incident. At the same time, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic assured the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that the situation was under the control of the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic.
On May 19, 2024, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Avazbek Atakhanov and the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Ali Zaigham.
During the discussion, Ambassador of Pakistan Hassan Ali Zaigham expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz side for the assistance provided in obtaining the information about the incident on May 18, 2024, in Bishkek with the participation of foreign students, including citizens of Pakistan.
Deputy Minister A.Atakhanov noted that this incident has been resolved and the situation is under the full control of the law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic, and an investigation is underway against all those involved.
At the same time, the parties agreed to organize a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Zheenbek Kulubaev, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, within the framework of the SCO Ministerial Council, which will be held on May 21, 2024 in Astana.
On May 19, 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zheenbek Kulubaev had a telephone conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
During the conversation, the parties noted their readiness for close cooperation and the strengthening of the Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations in various fields, which traditionally have a friendly nature and are steadily developing at the bilateral level, as well as within international and regional organizations, primarily the UN, SCO, OIC,and others. Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev informed about the incident on May 18 of this year in Bishkek involving foreign students, including Pakistani citizens, and emphasized that public order is currently fully ensured and the situation is under the control of the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic. Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev emphasized the importance of using reliable information and conducting appropriate work to suppress false information and publications in Pakistan’s information space, which could harm the Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar expressed complete understanding of the situation and also gratitude for the effective measures taken by the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan to ensure public order and the safety of Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan. He also noted readiness for active cooperation on this issue. To further exchange data and discuss the development of the Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations, the parties agreed to hold a bilateral meeting on May 21, 2024, in Astana within the framework of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, as well as to organize inter-ministerial consultations on consular and legal issues between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan in Bishkek in the near future.
Both parties agreed that the peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are close brotherly nations and will work together to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
On May 20, 2024, in Astana, on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zheenbek Kulubaev had a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
The parties discussed issues related to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan in such fields as trade and investment, textile, tourism and education, healthcare, and other areas, paying a particular emphasis on the enhancement of economic diplomacy, and cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries, as well as on the exchange of high-level visits.
The parties noted the important role of the Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Pakistani Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and the cooperation between the two countries within the CASA-1000 sub-regional energy project.
In the end of the meeting the parties agreed to focus efforts on increasing the dynamics of mutual visits and strengthening cooperation between the business communities of the two countries. Besides, they decided to hold consultations between the foreign ministries of Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan on political, consular and legal issues in the near future.
On May 21, 2024 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic informs that following the regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, end route to Islamabad, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar made a brief stopover in Bishkek.
In Bishkek, Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar intends to visit Pakistani citizens receiving relevant treatment in medical institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic. Besides, there were working meetings of the representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic with him.
On May 21, 2024 Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Edil Baisalov met with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Ishaq Dar, who arrived in Bishkek on a short visit.
They jointly visited a Pakistani citizen undergoing treatment at the National Hospital.
During the conversation, the parties expressed satisfaction that, thanks to the established direct and constant intergovernmental contact, recent events could not damage the traditionally friendly Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations.
Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Ministers Mr.Edil Baisalov assured the senior representative of Pakistan of a friendly and benevolent attitude towards foreign students in Kyrgyzstan and that all those responsible for the recent incident will be brought to justice.
The interlocutors exchanged views and outlined a number of joint steps to strengthen cooperation in the cultural, humanitarian, trade and economic spheres. The parties also found mutual understanding on the need for interstate regulation of labor migration issues.
On May 20, 2024 President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr.Sadyr Japarov made an appeal on the incident that occurred on May 18 in Bishkek.
Mr.Sadyr Japarov noted that he gave the law enforcement agencies an order to take control of the situation, continuously conduct explanatory work with young people and try to stabilize the situation without clashes. We were able to stop the riots in time. Now all those responsible will receive their well-deserved punishment.
Kyrgyz people are looking forward to strengthen ties with brotherly people of Pakistan, taking into account deep common history, single religion and numerous cultural similarities.
The bilateral relations between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are described as friendly, also have a rich history and many things in common from the perspective of religion, culture, language and traditions.
For the last years our countries have organized significant number of visits on different levels, are actively cooperating within the framework of various regional and international organizations.
I am confident that by our joint efforts, we can build prosperous and developed region for the future of our nations.
I want to tell you don’t be afraid to visit Kyrgyzstan, the situation in Bishkek is calm. The recent incident in Bishkek on Ma y 18th should not deter you from visiting Kyrgyzstan. It was an isolated incident that does not reflect the overall safety of the country or the warm hospitality of the Kyrgyz people.
The Kyrgyz people are known for their hospitality: Kyrgyzstan has a rich cultural tradition of welcoming guests. You will be greeted with warmth and kindness by the locals, who will go out of their way to make you feel at home.
Thank you for your attention!
