Analyst blames US, Russia's 'shortsightedness' for Kyrgyz violence

Washington, June 19 (ANI): A noted political analyst has blamed both the US and Russia for the ethnic unrest in Kyrgyzstan in which nearly 200 people have been killed so far.

Lawrence Markowitz, assistant professor of political science, in Rowan University has blamed the shortsightedness of the US and Russia for attacks on Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyz town of Osh and other adjacent areas.

"Turning a blind eye to the violence in Kyrgyzstan both by the United States and Russia have contributed in the political unrest in the country," Markowitz said.

"Both countries maintain important military bases in Kyrgyzstan but have contributed little in the way of institution building in the region," he added.

'Manas' and 'Kant' are the two military bases of the US and Russia in Kyrgyzstan.

However, the professor opined that these two countries have done very little to deal with the present situation in the country. He claimed that the riots are not exactly inter-ethnic but political strife.

About 100,000 Uzbek refugees have fled to Uzbekistan following the bloodbath, and this has added to the tension further.

Markowitz stressed that he maintains both Moscow and Washington have responsibilities to assist in humanitarian efforts to quell the political unrest in the region. (ANI)