The people of Uzbekistan came out on May 21st to speak against the unjust practices of the authoritarian government of President Islam Karimov, incidentally a key American ally. The protest also demanded the release of an Islamic rebel leader who sought to fight for the people's rights and questioned the authoritarian rule. Many women were involved in this protest. You can read about that here.

Prior to this, there had been a mass protest led mostly by women in nearby Andijon, demanding better jobs, homes, and a decrease in gas prices. Many claimed that the dwindling economy had made their lives unbearable. The reaction by the government was extreme. This happened on May 13. Radio Free Europe reports...

"Nobody [from the authorities] came [to speak to demonstrators]. There was [only] the prosecutor of Andijon and a representative of the SNB [National Security Service] who spoke to us. [Then] they started shooting at the unarmed women who were sitting around the square."

A camp was set up to provide shelter for the more than 500 who safely made it across the border to Kyrgyzstan. There they were provided blankets, food, and electricity. Around 20 people were hospitalized with injuries they sustained in the violence.

The government is denying the claim that approximately 700 protestors were killed in the open fire. Does anyone know more about this?