Tajik military personnel use civilians as human shields

Bishkek, Sept. 16, 2022. / Kabar /. During the armed incident on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, the facts of the use by the Tajik side of not only heavy equipment, but also the population of the border area as human shields were recorded, the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan reported.

It said that from the side of Tajikistan, people in unknown uniforms and without identification marks of belonging to any armed formations also take part in the clashes.

The personnel of the Border Service of Kyrgyzstan continues to conduct fierce battles, takes adequate measures in the course of a change in the situation, uses modern weapons and equipment to force the enemy to cease fire.

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 Samarkendekvillage. 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.