Identity, Belonging and Citizenship in Kyrgyzstan: The Case of the Mugat Сommunity in Osh

Abstract

Kyrgyzstan is a home for many ethnic minority groups, including the Mugat community, which is based in the city of Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The community had settled in Osh before the country obtained its independence in 1991. However, the Mugat community has never been successfully integrated into Kyrgyzstani society. The government and Kyrgyzstani society perceive the community mainly negatively while pointing at them as Lyuli in a negative sense. However, the community has been granted citizenship as Lyuli since it was added to the list of nationalities in Kyrgyzstan between 2014 and 2017. Additionally, the community, the government, and the general Kyrgyzstani society are struggling with understanding the Mugat community and defining them as some relate the community to Gypsies in Russia, Roma in Europe, or Lyuli in Tajikistan as the community speaks Tajik. Furthermore, besides the problems with correctly identifying the community, issues related to belonging to Kyrgyzstan still need to be clarified.

Thus, the research puts significance on the questions related to the identity, belonging, and citizenship of the Mugat community. Within the study, the question of why the Mugat community is excluded from enjoying their full rights and freedom as regular citizens of the country is raised. The research also focuses on the Mugat community while investigating their views and attitudes toward the above mentioned issues. The research is based on direct and indirect observations, focus group discussions, interviews, and informal talks with the Mugat community members settled in Osh. The study believes in contributing to the academic field to fill the gap in studying the Mugat community in Kyrgyzstan since there are limited studies on the community. In addition, it will contribute to the study of vulnerable minority communities and theoretical issues of identity, belonging, and citizenship.