Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions.

Most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916 in which one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed.

Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. . .

so far, so good. . . until

In July 2005 Kurmanbek Bakiev was elected president and began manipulating parliament to gain new authoritarian powers. He routinely harrased journalists and political opponents and, In July 2009, was re-elected in a campaign that “failed to meet international standards.”

In April 2010, nationwide protests led to the resignation and expulsion of Bakiev. He was replaced by Acting President Roza Otunbayeva who called for new elections in six months time. .

BUT !

In June of 2010, attacks, fueled by ethnic tensions between minority Uzbeks and Kyrgyz nationals, erupted taking the lives of 2000 Uzbeks and displacing 80,000.

With help from the Kyrgyz Military rioters openly shot men, women and children in the streets of Osh and Jalalabad. They locked people inside of their homes and burned them alive.

After the violence raged four days Russian troops were sent to stabilize the situation.

Conditions for Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan are dire and future outbreaks of ethnic violence are likely around the corner.