All residents of border areas being evacuated in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, Sept. 16, 2022. / Kabar /. Currently, all the residents of border areas are being evacuated in Kyrgyzstan, governor of Batken Oblast Abdikarim Alimbaev told.

“Residents leave on their own vehicles and also by means of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. All structures of the oblast - city halls, districts are preparing restaurants, teahouses to assist evacuated citizens.

Also, in the village of Chon-Talaa, Batken region, shelling began from Tajikistan, and the road is now temporarily blocked. Heads of the regions - akims are negotiating with the akim of the Uzbek enclave Sokh. Those who are heading to Osh can pass through the enclave,” the head of the Batken region said.

The armed conflict on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan was once again provoked by the Tajik side. Starting from September 8 of this year, the Tajik side began to transfer its special forces to the Vorukh enclave, and also prepared firing positions near the conditional state border line. Further, on September 14, at 08.00 a.m., the Tajik side showed armed aggression in the Bulak-Bashi area, starting shelling from firearms and mortars in 5 directions, including Samarkendek village. As a result, 10 civilian objects were damaged, and 3 local residents were injured including a 11 years old child.

The State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic noted that an armed attack on Kyrgyzstan was also carried out by unidentified bearded men in black military uniforms without insignia, presumably mercenary fighters.

Today, September 16, the Tajik side again began shelling the border detachments of Kyrgyzstan and the positions of the Kyrgyz side in the areas of Eki-Tash, Chir-Dobo and Kum-Mazar and Orto-Boz from small arms and group weapons.

There are wounded among the military personnel of the Kyrgyz Republic, and local residents are being evacuated.

Further, the Kyrgyz Border Service stated that, violating all previously reached agreements, the Tajik side treacherously attacked border and civilian facilities along the entire perimeter of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border in the Batken region.

Starting from 8:30, the Border Guard Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic demands a ceasefire and negotiations. Also, negotiations were held by phone between the heads of the border departments of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where an agreement was reached on a ceasefire from 10:00 to hold a meeting. However, neither at 8:30 am nor at 10:00 am the Tajik side fulfilled the agreements.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic handed a note of protest regarding the illegal and destructive actions of the Tajik border guards.

Kyrgyzstan calls on the Tajik side to cease fire and direct all efforts to de-escalate the armed conflict and maintain peace and stability on the jointly guarded border.