Kyrgyzstan's Ambassador in Pakistan Ulanbek Totuyaev Wednesday assured that the situation in Bishkek is calm and under control, and Pakistanis should not hesitate in visiting his country, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The Kyrgyz envoy in a press briefing in Islamabad on Wednesday emphasized that locals will welcome Pakistanis with warmth and kindness as per their tradition.
Ambassador Totuyaev stated that the recent incident on May 18 in Bishkek should not deter people from visiting, as it was an isolated event and does not reflect the overall safety or the hospitable nature of the Kyrgyz people.
During a press briefing, Ambassador Totuyaev explained that on the evening of May 13, a fight broke out between local and foreign citizens in eastern Bishkek. The police registered a criminal case under the article "hooliganism" and took all involved individuals to the police station. On May 17, a video of the fight and injured Kyrgyz citizens was posted on social media which led to a local crowd gathering in Bishkek on the night of May 18 against the foreigners involved in violence.
The Kyrgyz envoy added that in response to the incident, Kyrgyz law enforcers detained four Egyptians and ten Kyrgyz citizens following the riots on May 18, the Chief of the Sverdlovsk Regional Directorate of Internal Affairs and nine officers were dismissed from their positions.
He said on May 21, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Edil Baisalov called on Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and they jointly visited a Pakistani citizen receiving treatment at the National Hospital. Later, they expressed satisfaction that the recent events would not harm the traditionally friendly Kyrgyz-Pakistani relations due to the established direct and permanent inter-governmental communication.
On that occasion, Edil Baisalov assured the senior Pakistani representative that foreign students in Kyrgyzstan are treated with friendliness and goodwill. He also promised that all responsible for the recent incident would be brought to justice, the Kyrgyz envoy concluded.
Reporter: Muhammad Anwar Abbas