DUSHANBE, June 28, Asia-Plus – Beginning on June 30, citizens of Tajikistan, mainly ethnic Kyrgyz, who arrived in Kyrgyzstan following militant and political conflict in Tajikistan 1993-1997, will not be considered refugees any more.
According to information from the UNCHR Country Office in
Tajikistan
, such a decision has been made by the UNHCR Country Office in
Kyrgyzstan
in connection with the fact that the civil conflict in
Tajikistan
ended in 1997 and at present political situation and a general human rights situation in
Tajikistan
are recognized to be stable.
“In this connection,
Kyrgyzstan
’s president signed an appropriate edict on this subject,” the source said, noting that those wanting to stay in
Kyrgyzstan
permanently now should receive Kyrgyz citizenship. They may receive Kyrgyz citizenship in accordance with simplified procedure, lodging applications for citizenship through a network of NGOs till September 2006.
According to data provided by the UNHCR Country Office in
Tajikistan
, at present ethnic Kyrgyz from
Tajikistan
are staying in the Zhayil district near Bishkek, and their number is some 1,100 people.
The largest exodus of ethnic Kyrgyz was caused by the military and political conflict in
Tajikistan
in 1993-1997. Many of them had received refugee status.
