Four Egyptian students detained for over two weeks in Kyrgyzstan have returned to Cairo on Saturday, according to the coordinator of the Egyptian community in Kyrgyzstan Amin El Kasaby.
Speaking to Al Manassa, El Kasaby confirmed that the group was received by Egypt's National Security Agency upon landing and remained in its custody for about seven hours. "They were treated with respect and generosity," he said.
The students were detained following an altercation on April 14 with a Kyrgyz citizen who, according to El Kasaby, appeared to "hold a position of influence." He said the incident led to charges of inciting unrest, and the students were held in pretrial detention for 15 days, later extended by 10 more due to a public holiday.
El Kasaby confirmed that the situation deteriorated partly because the Egyptian embassy in Kazakhstan, which oversees consular affairs in Kyrgyzstan— did not initially intervene.
"If the embassy had acted from the beginning, matters wouldn’t have escalated," he said, adding that the students' families had hired a lawyer, who visited them in detention and reported incidents of assault and humiliation.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced the students' detention on April 30, without disclosing their identities, the charges, or the conditions of their confinement. The statement said that the embassy in Kazakhstan had contacted Kyrgyz authorities to ensure the students were receiving their legal rights under local law.
According to the statement, the ministry had instructed the embassy to liaise with the students' families and request information from Kyrgyz officials regarding the case and trial dates.
Following intervention from Egypt's foreign ministry and the reconciliation, the students' conditions reportedly improved. El Kasaby noted that they were hosted for a full day at the Kyrgyz presidential palace. "Their situation changed significantly after the ministry got involved and after the settlement," he added.
The legal case concluded after the Kyrgyz complainant reached a settlement with the students and accepted financial compensation. El Kasaby confirmed the agreement last Friday, stating, "We paid a compensation amount, and the matter will be resolved."
Upon returning to Cairo, two of the students decided not to resume their studies in Kyrgyzstan, citing their experiences during detention. The remaining two expressed intentions to return and complete their education.
El Kasaby also noted the lack of an Egyptian diplomatic presence in Kyrgyzstan, home to an estimated 3,000 Egyptians. By contrast, the embassy in Kazakhstan serves fewer than 500 Egyptians.
He called on the establishment of a permanent diplomatic mission in Kyrgyzstan, asserting that an on-the-ground presence is essential to protect and support students during crises.
