In April 2026, a photo (archived) circulated online purportedly showing a sign at a hotel in Kyrgyzstan that read, "Jews and animals are not allowed!"
The picture featured a sign that included text in Kyrgyz, Russian and English, a crossed out Star of David and a crossed out figure of a dog.
One X user who shared the photograph called it "shocking."
The image of the sign and other similar claims about it being authentic also spread on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived) and Threads (archived).
According to a local news media report featuring an interview (archived) with the operator of the Villa hotel, where the sign appeared to have been erected, the building's owner posted the sign. The operator reportedly confirmed to Kaktus.media, the local outlet, that police were investigating the incident and the sign is no longer on display.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic confirmed via email on April 27 that law enforcement officers had identified and removed the sign from a facility in Osh. Authorities were carrying out further investigations, according to the spokesperson.
The Israeli embassy and ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic both posted about the incident, along with a local news media outlet.
Given all the above, we've rated this claim true.
Snopes contacted police in Osh and the Villa hotel for more information about the sign. We await replies to our inquiries.
Further context
The Israeli embassy to the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic posted (archived) the photo of the sign to X on April 20. The post says the sign was put up at the Villa hotel in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The caption reads:
The Embassy of the State of Israel to the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic strongly condemns the appearance of a sign in one of the hotel in the city of Osh in Kyrgyz Republic containing openly antisemitic and offensive statement.
On April 21, Yoav Bistritsky, the Israeli ambassador to Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, said (archived) on X that authorities in Kyrgyzstan had removed the sign:
I welcome the swift action by the authorities in Kyrgyzstan to remove the antisemitic and offensive sign and to open a criminal investigation against those responsible. Such hatred has no place in any society. I will continue to follow the matter closely.
According to another local news media report, the Villa hotel opened (archived) in Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city, in late March 2026. It is unclear when the sign was put up, though Kaktus.media said a guest "witnessed the incident" a "few days ago."
The hotel operator reportedly told Kaktus that hotel staff opposed the decision to post the sign. That interview also supported the Israeli ambassador's X post that local authorities had removed it from view.
According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which monitors religious freedom in countries around the world, Kyrgyzstan is a predominantly Muslim country. A 2026 report says roughly 90% of the country's 6 million population "identify as Muslim" and "most Kyrgyz Muslims adhere to Hanafi Sunni Islam, while one percent adhere to Shi'a Islam."
Jewish people and a collection of other religions make up around 3% of the population, per the report.
USCIRF also says religious freedom deteriorated in the country in 2025. The commission reported that new legislation had shrunk religious freedom and targeted minority groups, and that Kyrgyz authorities "penalized peaceful religious activities through fines, detainments, prison sentences, forced renunciations of faith, and physical abuse" (Page 68).