OSH, Kyrgyzstan -- A woman from the southern Kyrgyz region of Osh has been arrested for allegedly fraudulently claiming her sister died in last summer's ethnic clashes in order to receive compensation, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
The Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security said in Bishkek on July 19 that Ainura Jokoeva, 40, from Uzgen, forged documents naming her sister as one of the victims of the unrest between local Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions last year.
Jokoeva illegally received 1 million soms ($21,400) in compensation from the government for her sister's death.
When it became clear the sister was still living, police launched an investigation and charged Jokoeva with forgery and fraud. She has been remanded in custody in Osh.
In May, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev signed a decree setting compensation of 1 million soms per family for relatives killed or still missing, 100,000 soms for those who suffered severe injuries, and 50,000 soms for those who suffered minor injuries.
More than 400 people died in the clashes, and dozens are still missing. Thousands more were injured or lost their homes. Most of the victims were ethnic Uzbeks.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
The Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security said in Bishkek on July 19 that Ainura Jokoeva, 40, from Uzgen, forged documents naming her sister as one of the victims of the unrest between local Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions last year.
Jokoeva illegally received 1 million soms ($21,400) in compensation from the government for her sister's death.
When it became clear the sister was still living, police launched an investigation and charged Jokoeva with forgery and fraud. She has been remanded in custody in Osh.
In May, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev signed a decree setting compensation of 1 million soms per family for relatives killed or still missing, 100,000 soms for those who suffered severe injuries, and 50,000 soms for those who suffered minor injuries.
More than 400 people died in the clashes, and dozens are still missing. Thousands more were injured or lost their homes. Most of the victims were ethnic Uzbeks.
Read more in Kyrgyz here
