On June 20, 2010, the Kyrgyzstan government extended a state of emergency in the southern city of Osh, citing the need to deter ethnic violence. The state of emergency was originally declared by interim President Roza Otunbayeva in the wake of violent protests by the Uzbek ethnic minority after the ouster of deposed president Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April 2010. Otunbayeva also issued "shoot to kill" orders to the nation's military in the wake of the violence that was primarily centered in the southern cities of Osh and Jalal'abad. The ethnic conflict centered over the fears that the new government would not protect the Uzbek minority from the country's Kyrgyz majority. The violence left hundreds dead, and there have been numerous convictions handed down since the riots were quelled in August 2010. Bakiyev was also charged for his alleged role in the riots.

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