The Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Moscow addressed an official note to the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and the Prosecutor General’s Office about the recent murders of Kyrgyz citizens, reported PR.kg on February 4. According to embassy statistics, in January 2008 alone four citizens of Kyrgyzstan were killed in Moscow and St. Petersburg in racially motivated attacks by young pro-nationalist groups. In the note, the Embassy expressed “serious concern and deep regret” about the increase in xenophobic violence in Russia against Kyrgyz citizens and foreigners in general. According to the information agency, diplomats called on Russian officials to investigate these crimes as soon as possible and to dole out harsh punishments for all of the offenders. The letter also urged the Russian side to tighten legal measures with regard to crimes on the basis of ethnic and racial intolerance.  

This information was originally published on February 4, 2008. (www.pr.kg).