Kyrgyzstan hunts for suspects in riots

Calcutta News.Net
Wednesday 21st July, 2010

The government of Kyrgyzstan has opened criminal cases against 54 suspects who allegedly participated in riots in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh last month.

The deadly ethnic unrest between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in mid-June left at least 316 dead and caused hundreds of thousands to leave their homes.

Dozens of other suspects are on the run after being accused of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, murder, attempted murder, assault, illegal possession of weapons, damaging private property and arson.

Physical abuse and torture was reported at the height of the riots, which was partly over the arbitrary detention of ethnic Uzbeks by Kyrgyz security forces in Osh.

International human rights groups and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have now expressed concern that local authorities may be involved in illegal arrests, torture, and ill treatment of detainees, leading to forced confessions.

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