Warden Message- March 31, 2006 

The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek has received reports that there are political demonstrations in the main square in Bishkek today, March 31^st, 2006.  The demonstrations are in support of Ryspek Akmatbaev, who was recently disqualified by the Central Election Commission as a candidate for Parliament.  The Embassy recommends that U.S. Citizens in the Kyrgyz Republic avoid the area surrounding the main square today and over the weekend.  The Embassy would also like to remind American Citizens to avoid large crowds, including demonstrations, in the period running up to by-elections to the Kyrgyz Parliament on April 9^th, 2006.

We wish to remind American Citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.  American Citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

U.S. citizens are urged to register and update their contact information at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.  The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek is located at 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.  The phone number is 996-312-551-241, fax: 996-312-551-264, and website: http://bishkek.usembassy.gov.

Updated information on travel and security in the Kyrgyz Republic may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444.  U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet, the Travel Warning for the Kyrgyz Republic at http://travel.state.gov and the Public Announcement for Central Asia at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_2491.html, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement http://travel.state.gov/wwc1.html, and the travel publication "A Safe Trip Abroad" at http://travel.state.gov/asafetripabroad.html .