Atambayev addresses nation on occasion of 7th anniversary of June 2010

Bishkek, June 9 /Kabar/. President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev addressed the people of Kyrgyzstan on the occasion of 7th anniversary of inter ethnic clashes in the south Kyrgyzstan in June 2010.

"Seven years have passed since June 2010 tragedy when 442 people were killed in interethnic conflict in the south of Kyrgyzstan, thousands of others were injured, dozens of citizens went missing," the address reads.

"Today we again extend our condolences to the families of those killed and thank all those who helped during hard times. Humanitarian aid came all over Kyrgyzstan and from many countries. We thank international community for their timely help and support," Atambayev said in his message.

In his address, the President also provided results of 2015 survey conducted by an international organization, according to which "82% of Kyrgyzstani population believe in abilities of the government to prevent interethnic conflicts, whereas few years before only 30% of the population thought so."

He also reminded of the modern security challenges such as extremism and terrorism that Kyrgyzstan like other nations is yet to fight against and admitted the presence in Kyrgyzstan of followers of some destructive forces interested in interethnic clashes.

"Under the guise of rights defenders, experts and journalists, some of them are intentionally trying to fuel interethnic tensions, cynically using in their interests even the upcoming date of anniversary of June tragedy," the statement said.

"My fellow citizens! We must not forget the lesson we learned from the June 2010 tragedy!" the statement said. "We must continue making efforts to strengthen people's unity in Kyrgyzstan, not to give a chance to those people with their personal geopolitical interests to aggravate the tensions in our country.

Together we will build a nation of free people, independent and strong Kyrgyzstan!"

The Kyrgyz Revolution of 2010, also known as the Second Kyrgyz Revolution, began in April 2010 with the ousting of Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev in the capital Bishkek. It was followed by increased ethnic tension involving Kyrgyz people and Uzbeks in the south of the country, which escalated in June 2010. The violence ultimately led to the consolidation of a new parliamentary system in Kyrgyzstan.