Kyrgyz Republic Public Announcement

Issued by US Department of State

Jun 07, 2002

U.S. citizens should evaluate the implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to the Kyrgyz Republic. While the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has been helpful in ensuring the safety of U.S. citizens, the presence in country of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a group designated by the Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization, cannot be ruled out. Ongoing regional security concerns resulting from the Kyrgyz Republic's close proximity to Afghanistan warrant that all American citizens in or traveling through the Kyrgyz Republic take measures to ensure their safety and security. The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek continues to employ heightened security precautions.

While the IMU has been affected by Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, their current operational capabilities remain unclear. The Department of State continues to assess the situation. In 1999, armed IMU fighters took four Japanese citizens and a number of Kyrgyz nationals hostage. In August 2000, members of the IMU crossed the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, engaged Kyrgyz security forces, and took hostage four American mountain climbers. In July 2001, Kyrgyz armed forces engaged in a skirmish with armed individuals south of the city of Khaykrykhan in the Batken Oblast region. At least two Kyrgyz soldiers were wounded. While there have been no reported hostile IMU incidents in the Kyrgyz Republic since 2001, future activity by the group cannot be conclusively ruled out.

Travel by U.S. Government personnel to areas of the Kyrgyz Republic south and west of Osh is currently restricted. The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens that the security situation remains fluid in the area along the Kyrgyz-Tajik and Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders. This is due to both the history of IMU activity in the area and the presence of land mines in the Batken Oblast region and along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that American citizens avoid all travel to these areas.

Americans who decide to remain in or visit the Kyrgyz Republic should exercise due caution and take prudent measures. Such measures include maintaining a strong security posture by being aware of their surroundings, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes and notifying the U.S. Embassy in case of any change in the local security situation. For example, the Aksyy region in Jalal-Abad Oblast area northwest of Osh, was the scene of a number of violent political demonstrations in spring 2002 in which several civilians were killed and many were wounded. As well, U.S. citizens are urged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek if there are any changes in their contact information.