Kyrgyzstan urges citizens not to fly to Russia unless necessary

BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan’s foreign ministry has urged its citizens to put off unnecessary travel to Russia after a deadly mass shootingat a concert hall near Moscow that was blamed on migrants from Central Asia.

Last Friday’s attack by camouflague-clad gunmen has fanned anti-immigrant sentiment in Russia, especially towards labourers from the predominantly Muslim countries of Central Asia. Seven suspects originally from Tajikistan and one from Kyrgyzstan have been arrested.

Islamic State has said it was responsible for the attack and has released video footage of the massacre. Russia, without providing evidence, has said it suspects a Ukrainian link in the attack, something Kyiv strongly denies.