KIC final report published

The report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (KIC) into the events in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 was released by its Chair Dr Kimmo Kiljunen on Tuesday, 3 May in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The findings are based on extensive interviews of some 750 witnesses, 700 documents and nearly 5 000 photographs and 1 000 video extracts.

The KIC acknowledges the excellent cooperation of the authorities of Kyrgyzstan which allowed access to all individuals and institutions as well as places it required. It is noteworthy that the Inquiry was first of its type ever pursued in the region.

The KIC established that the violence, mainly in the cities of Osh and Jalalabad, resulted in significant loss of life and injury on both sides of the ethnic conflict, with some 470 deaths, and thousands more injured. Of the killed people 74 % were Uzbek and 25 % Kyrgyz. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, not to mention the wide-scale damage to property, most of which was Uzbek-owned. Allegations of rape and other forms of sexual violence by both sides were also collected.

The KIC notes that in the wake of the 7 April overthrow of the previous regime, there appeared a power vacuum and consequent political rivalries, fragile state institutions and the weak rule of law in southern Kyrgyzstan boosting ethno-nationalism. “Political fanaticism misused ethnicity with tragic consequences” said Dr Kiljunen.

The KIC qualified the violations under international law. It does not consider the violence as war crimes or genocide. However, certain attacks against the Uzbek mahallas in Osh on 11-13 June, if proven beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law, would amount to crimes against humanity. Furthermore, there were many other criminal acts and serious violations of international human rights law.

The KIC was not mandated to conduct a criminal investigation and is not in a position to identify named individuals as being responsible for the crimes that have been documented. It is essential that every effort be made by the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to establish individual criminal responsibility.

Arrests, criminal investigations and trials after June events have been selective targeting so far primarily ethnic Uzbek minority. There is also evidence which indicates that acts of torture have been committed in detention centers by the authorities.

The KIC examined the institutional and political responsibility of various actors and institutions. Although there were fragile state structures after the April overthrow, nevertheless “the basic responsibility of any Government is to protect all its citizens, which obligation was not fulfilled in southern Kyrgyzstan last June” said Dr Kiljunen.

The KIC notes that had the military been properly instructed and deployed, it would have been possible to prevent or stop the violence. The failure of the security forces to protect their equipment against seizure raises questions of complicity. The Government should undertake an investigation and prosecution into the role of security forces and specifically, into the loss of military and police equipment.

The KIC recommends numerous measures on inclusive state building and reconciliation. Kyrgyzstan should take a strong public stand against extreme nationalism and ethnic exclusivity. A truth and reconciliation commission should be established. International follow-up is needed, which calls relevant international bodies to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the report. The KIC welcomes the intention of the Government of Kyrgyzstan to establish a special Commission for implementation and monitoring the discharge of recommendations of the KIC.

The KIC was formed based on an initiative from the Nordic countries for an independent international inquiry and was accepted by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. It includes seven prominent members from Finland, Australia, Estonia, France, Russia, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The report is available on the KIC web site www.k-ic.org.

For further information, please contact Kimmo Kiljunen, KIC chairman (+358 50 5113088).