2010 South Kyrgyzstan ethnic clashes

2010 South Kyrgyzstan Uzbek Massacre
Part of Kyrgyz Revolution of 2010

Panorama of part of the city of Osh (Kyrgyzstan), 2016
DateMay–June 2010
Location
 Kyrgyzstan: Osh, Jalal-Abad
 Uzbekistan: Sokh, Sogment (Uzbekistani enclaves in Kyrgyzstan) and bordering areas in Kyrgyzstan
Result Bishkek government regains partial control over southern provinces; limited exodus of the Uzbek minority; Uzbek language suppressed in public life
Belligerents

Kyrgyzstani Kyrgyz gangs

Other pro- Bakiyev forces

Uzbekistani Kyrgyz1

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (alleged)

Kyrgyzstani Uzbeks

Uzbekistani Uzbek civilians1

 Uzbekistan (limited involv.)2

 Kyrgyz provisional government
Supported by:
Turkmenistan
Iran
Kazakhstan
China
Russia
Turkey

United States
Casualties and losses

official figures: 393–893 killed, 1,900 injured, 100,000 – 250,000 refugees (to Uzbekistan) (According to the UN and ICG 400,000 displaced, 111,000 refugees to Uzbekistan)

unofficial figures: more than 2,000 killed
1 Involved in Kyrgyz-Uzbek clashes within Uzbekistani enclave of Sokh and in minor skirmishes amongst Kyrgyzstani Kyrgyz on bordering areas.
2 Involved only briefly in defense of Uzbek population in Uzbekistani enclave of Sokh within Kyrgyzstan.

The 2010 South Kyrgyzstan ethnic clashes, also known as the Osh riots, were clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan, primarily in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad, in the aftermath of the ouster of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on 7 April. It is part of the larger Kyrgyz Revolution of 2010. Violence that started between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks on 19 May in Jalal-Abad escalated on 10 June in Osh.

The spreading of the violence required the Russian-endorsed interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva to declare a state of emergency on 12 June, in an attempt to take control of the situation. Uzbekistan launched a limited troop incursion early on, but withdrew and opened its borders to Uzbek refugees. The clashes killed nearly 420 people, mostly Uzbeks, and displaced another 80,000.