50 per cent of respondents were ethnic Kyrgyz (2,149 persons) and 45 per cent ethnic Uzbek (1,933). However, the ethnic composition of stateless persons varies locally: in Batken Province, for example, 90 per cent of stateless persons are ethnic Kyrgyz. Chart 9: The ethnicity of stateless persons 50% 2% 3% 45% Kyrgyz Uzbek Tajik Other ethnicities The rights of stateless persons The survey found that stateless persons are restricted in their freedom of movement, that some find it difficult or impossible to register marriages and births, and that they do not enjoy access to legal employment and welfare. In addition, stateless persons who fall victim to human rights violations do not dare to approach the law-enforcement agencies for protection because of their illegal status. As a result, crimes and other violations of their rights are not documented or investigated. To the question “Have you ever experienced violation of your rights by law-enforcement officers or other persons acting in their official capacity?”, 326 out of 4,290 respondents (8 per cent) claimed that the authorities had violated their rights, with 288 (88 per cent) of the respondents linking the incident to their status as stateless persons. The most vulnerable are those stateless persons who possess only an expired or invalid Uzbek passport. During the survey, they reported illegal and arbitrary arrest and detention, and said that their freedom of movement is significantly restricted. They claimed that they cannot find legal sources of income due to the complexity of acquiring work permits for foreigners* and that their marriages are not always registered. * cf. Regulation on Employment of Foreigners and Stateless Persons in Kyrgyzstan, approved by resolution #639 26 The Situation of Stateless Persons in the Kyrgyz Republic: Findings of Surveys Commissioned by the UNHCR