Ramesheditor at 06:49, 20 February 2026

2026-02-20T06:49:53Z

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{{Short description|Xenophobic riots in Bishkek}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2024 Bishkek riots
| location = [[Bishkek]], [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| date = May 17–18, 2024
| image =
| caption =
| target = Foreigners, especially ones from [[Middle East and North Africa|SWANA]] and [[South Asia]]
| type = Mob violence
| fatalities = 4
| injuries = At least 29<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-18 |title=First batch of students arrives as govt moves in to rescue Pakistanis in Bishkek |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/05/18/no-pakistanis-killed-in-kyrgyzstan-mob-violence-targeting-foreign-students/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519092226/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/05/18/no-pakistanis-killed-in-kyrgyzstan-mob-violence-targeting-foreign-students/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| perpetrators = Kyrgyz nationalist mobs
| numparts = Over 100 (initially)<br>500–700
| motive = [[Xenophobia]]
}}
The '''2024 Bishkek riots''' were attacks on foreigners by ethnic [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]] mobs in [[Bishkek]], the capital of [[Kyrgyzstan]]. The clashes lasted from May 17th to the 18th, with four reported deaths.

Foreign governments with citizens in the country took a deep concern, with the [[Pakistan]]i government successfully evacuating 3000+ Pakistani students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salim |first=Yusra |date=2024-05-26 |title=Panic in Bishkek |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468230/panic-in-bishkek |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==
Kyrgyzstan is a common destination for medical students, given its cheap costs of education and internationally recognized [[medical degree]]s. It had more than 60,000 foreign students in 2021, including 14,500 [[India]]n students and 10,000 Pakistani students.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-18 |title=Mob violence in Kyrgyzstan a threat to Indian, Pakistani students? What we know so far |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/mob-violence-in-kyrgyzstan-a-threat-to-indian-pakistani-students-what-we-know-so-far-13772259.html |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us |archive-date=2024-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518142053/https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/mob-violence-in-kyrgyzstan-a-threat-to-indian-pakistani-students-what-we-know-so-far-13772259.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Trigger ==
The trigger of the clashes was a brawl between four or five young local citizens and [[Egyptians|Egyptian]] students in a dormitory on May 13th at about 02:00.<ref name=elba>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-18 |title=غاغة ضد المهاجرين في قرغيزستان واحتجاز 3 طلاب مصريين |url=https://elbashayer.com/3327337/%d8%ba%d8%a7%d8%ba%d8%a9-%d8%b6%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%87%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%ba%d9%8a%d8%b2%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ad%d8%aa%d8%ac%d8%a7/ |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=جريدة البشاير |language=ar |archive-date=2024-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518145440/https://elbashayer.com/3327337/%d8%ba%d8%a7%d8%ba%d8%a9-%d8%b6%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d9%87%d8%a7%d8%ac%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%ba%d9%8a%d8%b2%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ad%d8%aa%d8%ac%d8%a7/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ru>{{cite news |title=Хронология событий приведшие к волнению в городе Бишкек |url=https://mvd.gov.kg/rus/news/3247 |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=mvd.gov.kg}}</ref> Kyrgyzstani young men demanded cigarettes, which Egyptians refused.<ref name=issue>{{cite news |title=Issue of Egyptian students in Kyrgyzstan solved: Egypt’s Foreign Ministry |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/132510/Issue-of-Egyptian-students-in-Kyrgyzstan-solved-Egypt%E2%80%99s-Foreign-Ministry |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=EgyptToday |date=24 May 2024}}</ref> An existing video footage depicts Egyptian students attacking Kyrgyzstani men.<ref name=asia>{{cite news |last1=Asia |first1=Times of Central |title=An Uneasy Calm After Unrest in Bishkek - The Times Of Central Asia |url=https://timesca.com/an-uneasy-calm-after-unrest-in-bishkek/ |access-date=24 December 2024 |date=20 May 2024}}</ref> The Kyrgyz police arrested three<ref>{{cite news |title=What happened in Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek? |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/544603-what-happened-in-kyrgyzstan-capital-bishkek |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=www.geo.tv |language=en}}</ref> or four<ref name=asia/> Egyptian citizens and placed them in the temporary detention center of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate in Bishkek over suspicion of hooliganism.<ref>{{cite news |title=Egypt working to release detained students in Kyrgyzstan violence: Foreign ministry - Foreign Affairs - Egypt |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1234/523938/Egypt/Foreign-Affairs/Egypt-working-to-release-detained-students-in-Kyrg.aspx |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Ahram Online}}</ref> After the original problem was resolved, the video was published on May 17th,<ref name=ru/> spread across social media channels and the issue escalated. Later, it sparked retaliation by Kyrgyz mobs against foreigners in the country. Initially, over 100 Kyrgyz gathered "to take revenge on the foreigners who beat up residents."<ref name=arabnews>{{Cite web |title=Ambassador says five Pakistani students injured in Kyrgyzstan mob violence |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2512516/amp |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=Arab News |language=en |archive-date=2024-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518130403/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2512516/amp |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Main events ==

The Kyrgyz mobs began targeting anyone with a similar appearance to the Arabs they had fought. Pakistanis became the most targeted, and [[India]]ns and [[Bangladeshi]] were attacked too.<ref name=arabnews/><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2024 |title=Pakistanis in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek asked to stay indoors amid mob riots targeting international students |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1834250 |access-date=May 18, 2024 |archive-date=May 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518174046/https://www.dawn.com/news/1834250 |url-status=live }}</ref> The attacks were initially in universities, although they later spread to the streets, with Kyrgyz mobs attacking anyone perceived as foreign, whether they were male or female. Foreigners were instructed not to leave their homes and to close their curtains and to hide as the Kyrgyz mobs were severely beating people without any exceptions. The Kyrgyz mobs began going on a manhunt around the city for foreigners. 500–700 more Kyrgyz youth aged between 18 and 25 gathered in the city center.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bishkek-clashes-dozens-injured/32952534.html | title=4 Arrested, Dozens Injured as Mob Violence Targets Foreigners in Bishkek | access-date=2024-05-18 | archive-date=2024-05-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518125018/https://www.rferl.org/amp/bishkek-clashes-dozens-injured/32952534.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

After midnight, police recorded a video of the detained Egyptians, in which they apologized to the Kyrgyz people, expressed regret for what had happened, pledged that this will not happen again, and affirmed their determination to respect Kyrgyz law.<ref name=elba/>

Four Pakistani students were reported killed, according to a news network from Srinagar, India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freepresskashmir.news/2024/05/19/kyrgyzstan-four-pakistani-students-killed-in-violent-attack-india-urges-students-to-stay-indoor/amp/|title=Kyrgyzstan: Four Pakistani students killed in violent attack; India urges students to stay indoor|work=Free Press Kashmir|date=19 May 2024}}</ref> However, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan both reported that no Pakistani students were killed.

On Kyrgyz social media, rioters sent messages calling on locals to come out and attack foreigners. Streets were extremely dangerous as hundreds of Kyrgyz rioters were mercilessly beating any foreigner they saw.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/locals-spreading-hate-messages-on-tiktok-indian-students-in-kyrgyzstan/articleshow/110232396.cms | title=Locals spreading hate messages on TikTok: Indian students in Kyrgyzstan | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=2024-05-18 | archive-date=2024-05-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518125012/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/locals-spreading-hate-messages-on-tiktok-indian-students-in-kyrgyzstan/amp_articleshow/110232396.cms | url-status=live }}</ref>

Mobs surrounded universities, workplaces, houses, and hostels where Pakistanis, Indians, and [[Bangladesh]]is were located, and dragged them out to beat. They also chanted racist slogans.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-pakistan-riots-mob-violence-students-bishkek/32952766.html | title='A Living Hell': Pakistani Students Describe Harrowing Bishkek Mob Violence | access-date=2024-05-18 | archive-date=2024-05-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518125016/https://www.rferl.org/amp/kyrgyzstan-pakistan-riots-mob-violence-students-bishkek/32952766.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Local streets were closed by authorities, although it did not have much effect.<ref>{{cite web |last1=|first1= |date=17 May 2024 |title=Thousands of Pakistani students attacked by locals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |url=https://humenglish.com/world/thousands-of-pakistani-students-attacked-by-locals-in-bishkek-kyrgyzstan/ |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=humenglish.com |language=en |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520104727/https://humenglish.com/world/thousands-of-pakistani-students-attacked-by-locals-in-bishkek-kyrgyzstan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By May 18, the violence had died down and the authorities declared the riot over. One-hundred-eighty Pakistanis, including 140 students, left Kyrgyzstan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Service |first=RFE/RL's Kyrgyz |title=Bishkek University Reportedly Calm After Mob Violence That Injured At Least 29 |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bishkek-clashes-dozens-injured/32952534.html |access-date=2024-05-20 |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en |archive-date=2024-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519172219/https://www.rferl.org/a/bishkek-clashes-dozens-injured/32952534.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reactions and response==
===Egyptian government===
On May 22nd, the Egyptian embassy in Kazakhstan stated that the issue of Egyptian students in Kyrgyzstan is solved.<ref name=issue/> All detained students were released.

===Pakistani government ===
The [[Pakistani government]] was commended for its quick response to ensure the safety of Pakistani students. The [[Kyrgyz government]] ensured provision of foolproof security to Pakistani students. Standard medical services were provided to the injured students. The government announced plans to operate special flights to bring back Pakistanis from Bishkek. A committee was also constituted to investigate the matter.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-05-2024/bishkek-incident-nation-lauds-govts-swift-response-for-the-safety-of-pakistani-students | title=Bishkek incident: Govt's swift response for safety of Pakistani students lauded | access-date=2024-05-20 | archive-date=2024-05-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519172225/https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-05-2024/bishkek-incident-nation-lauds-govts-swift-response-for-the-safety-of-pakistani-students | url-status=live }}</ref>

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister [[Ishaq Dar|Muhammad Ishaq Dar]] announced that three special planes will bring back a total of 540 Pakistani students from Bishkek.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-05-2024/540-pakistani-students-to-return-from-kyrgyzstan-tonight-via-special-flights-ishaq-dar | title=Three special planes to bring back 540 Pakistanis from Bishkek tonight: Ishaq Dar | access-date=2024-05-20 | archive-date=2024-05-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519152219/https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-05-2024/540-pakistani-students-to-return-from-kyrgyzstan-tonight-via-special-flights-ishaq-dar | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]], a major opposition party, [[Sindh]]’s region President [[Haleem Adil Sheikh]] criticized the government's response and said that the government did nothing but issue statements. Shaikh called for immediate start of emergency flight operations and opening of a Green Corridor to ensure safe return of Pakistani nationals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40304221 | title=Bishkek: PTI leader assails govt for its 'action' | date=20 May 2024 | access-date=2024-05-20 | archive-date=2024-05-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520104728/https://www.brecorder.com/news/40304221 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Both the Indian and Pakistani embassies in Bishkek recommended that their nationals in Bishkek should stay indoors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-18 |title=Kyrgyzstan Violence: India, Pakistan Issue Emergency Helplines For Students Amid Reports of Riots In Kyrgyzstan {{!}} What We Know |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/india-pakistan-issue-emergency-helplines-for-students-amid-reports-of-riots-in-kyrgyzstan-what-we-know |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Outlook India |language=en |archive-date=2024-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518061329/https://www.outlookindia.com/national/india-pakistan-issue-emergency-helplines-for-students-amid-reports-of-riots-in-kyrgyzstan-what-we-know |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Kyrgyz government===

On 22 May the Kyrgyz [[Ministry of the Interior (Kyrgyzstan)|Ministry of Internal Affairs]] announced that ten people, six Kyrgyz nationals and four foreigners, had been detained in connection with the violent riots. According to the ministry, nine investigations were launched into hooliganism, robbery, mass disorder, and inciting ethnic hatred.<ref>[https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyz-foreign-nationals-detained-mob-attack/32959434.html 6 Kyrgyz, 4 Foreign Nationals Detained Over Mob Attacks In Bishkek That Triggered Exodus (RFE/RL)]</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}{{Kyrgyzstan topics}}
[[Category:2024 in Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:2024 riots]]
[[Category:Racism in Asia]]
[[Category:Anti-Indian sentiment in Asia]]
[[Category:Anti-Pakistan sentiment]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:May 2024 in Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Discrimination in Kyrgyzstan]]
[[Category:Kyrgyzstan–Pakistan relations]]
[[Category:India–Kyrgyzstan relations]]
[[Category:Bangladesh–Kyrgyzstan relations]]
[[Category:Racially motivated violence in Asia]]

2024 Bishkek riots - Revision history

Ramesheditor at 06:49, 20 February 2026