Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has explained his recent remarks that an interethnic conflict was being prepared in the country ahead of the election, infohub.kz reports.
Several days ago, the Kyrgyz president said he had received information about a possible plan to stoke an interethnic conflict ahead of the country's presidential election. He later offered clarification of his words.
"Yesterday I made an address about an interethnic conflict. There is no situation where something has already been organized. Some people sit over tea in a booth and discuss how to disrupt the election. And then someone says that an interethnic conflict between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz needs to be organized, and then the election will not take place. That is why I made the address — as a warning," Japarov said.
Sadyr Japarov stressed that the country's authorities will not allow such a scenario to unfold. He called on representatives of all ethnic groups living in Kyrgyzstan to live in peace and harmony.
"Whether Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Uyghurs or Tajiks, we must all live together in Kyrgyzstan amicably, as one family. Only then will there be development, economic growth, and the people's lives will improve. We need peace," Sadyr Japarov said.