Warsaw Human Dimension Session of the 2010 OSCE Review Conference
Working Session 5: (Rule of Law II), Tuesday 5 October 2010
Statement by the Human Rights Center "Citizens against Corruption" (Kyrgyzstan), the Fiery Hearts Club (France) and the International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium)
Arbitrary detentions, police brutality, ethnic bias and other human rights violations perpetrated in the aftermath of the summer's inter-ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan
During the inter-ethnic violence that rocked southern Kyrgyzstan in June this year, arson, looting, killings, rapes and other abhorrent acts took place at a large scale. Hundreds of people died, and thousands were injured. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee, and many of those who later returned are now sheltering in camps or staying with host families since their homes have been destroyed.
It is the obligation of the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to investigate the crimes that were perpetrated during the ethnic clashes of the summer and to bring to justice those responsible. However, all actions taken to this end must be carried out in strict accordance with national and international law. It is therefore of utmost concern that law enforcement authorities in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan reportedly have committed serious human rights violations as part of efforts to investigate and hold accountable those who organized and participated in the violence. This has not only discredited these efforts, but also contributed to further fueling inter-ethnic mistrust and hostility.
Since June, hundreds of people have been detained and accused of involvement in the mass violence. Detentions have often been carried out arbitrarily, and with the use of threats and force. During so-called sweep operations implemented for the purported purpose of tracking down weapons and alleged perpetrators of violence, police and security forces have conducted unsanctioned searches of homes, detained people without explaining the reasons, and threatened the relatives of those detained.