Kyrgyzstan hands protest note to Tajik ambassador after incident at border

Bishkek, May 9, 2020. /Kabar/. Today, May 9 Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan Nazrimada Alizoda was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan in connection with the border incident on May 8, 2020 on the Kyrgyz-Tajik section of the state border of the Kyrgyz Republic.

According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry’s press service, the Tajik diplomat was presented with a protest note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan in connection with the deliberate firing of assault rifles with grenade launcher, including group mortar weapons, resulting in serious gunshot wounds to three soldiers of the border service and one local resident of Kyrgyzstan.

"Concern has been expressed about the apparent destructive and provocative actions of military personnel and citizens of Tajikistan, leading to destabilization of the situation at the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border.

It was noted that it is a very unfortunate fact that these illegal actions of the Tajik side were committed on the eve of the great Victory Day and during the Holy Month of Ramadan, symbolizing the unity of peoples and the preservation of peace and tranquility.

The Kyrgyz side fully lays all responsibility for the worsening of the situation in the border areas on the Tajik side and demands to take urgent measures to avoid further aggravation of the situation and to bring the guilty parties to justice," the report says.

A conflict between residents of the border regions of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over the use of 50 acres of the Chek site occurred in the Chek area of ​​Batken Oblast. This site is undescribed, but actually used by the Kyrgyz side. About 30-40 citizens of Kyrgyzstan and 30-40 citizens of Tajikistan began to throw stones at each other.

Then an exchange of fire broke out, provoked by Tajik servicemen, who suddenly opened group fire towards Kyrgyz border guards and citizens. In the course of the shootout, three servicemen of the Kyrgyz State Border Service and one civilian were wounded to varying degrees. They were taken to the Batken Oblast Hospital. One was sent on an outpatient basis, the second's condition is assessed as extremely serious and the other two are in a medium condition.