Travel Warning: Kyrgyzstan

September 8, 2000
Americans are urged to avoid all travel in rural areas along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. American citizens are urged to be aware of an increased threat of terrorist violence in Uzbekistan and along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. The Department of State also urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to areas of the Kyrgyz Republic to the south and west of the provincial capital of Osh, and particularly along the Kyrgyz-Tajik and Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders. The security situation remains fluid, volatile and dangerous. Recent hostage-taking incidents in Kyrgyzstan have directly targeted foreign citizens, including one incident involving American citizens. Given this situation, U.S. Government-affiliated personnel were relocated from rural locations to urban centers, and U.S. Government personnel are prohibited from traveling to areas of the Kyrgyz Republic south and west of Osh and in rural areas along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. Given the presence of land mines in the Batken Oblast and along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, the U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that American citizens avoid all travel to these areas.

Militants from outside the Kyrgyz Republic launched an armed offensive into the southern Kyrgyz Republic in early August 2000, when Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) fighters crossed the Tajik-Kyrgyz border and engaged Kyrgyz security forces. Fighting between Kyrgyz forces and the IMU has resulted in a number of reported Kyrgyz fatalities.

Americans traveling to or residing in the Kyrgyz Republic are urged to contact the U.S. Embassy at 996-312-551-241 for updated security information.








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