Tajik nationals involved in beating Kyrgyzstanis to be prosecuted

Bishkek, May 18, 2021. / Kabar / . Governor of Kyrgyzstan’s Batken Oblast Abdikarim Alimbayev held a meeting with Governor of Sughd Region of Tajikistan Rajabba Ahmadzoda.

The Border Service of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security reported that the meeting held in Tumba area, Batken region of Batken Oblast was attended by representatives of law enforcement agencies of the two republics.

"During the meeting, the sides agreed that citizens of Tajikistan involved in the beating of detained citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic on May 17, 2021, will be brought to justice in accordance with the laws of Tajikistan," the report said.

In addition, in order to ensure the safety of residents of the border areas, it was decided to set up posts by internal affairs officers of the two countries on the border between the village of Ak-Sai (Kyrgyzstan) and Vorukh enclave (Tajikistan).

"A meeting of elders of the sides is planned to be held in the coming days. In turn, Batken Oblast state administration conducted explanatory work with Ak-Sai village residents, who were informed of the results of the meeting with the Tajik side," the report said.

The border units of the Kyrgyz Republic stationed in Batken Oblast are serving in a reinforced regime.

As of the evening of May 17, the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border is assessed as stable.

On May 1, the Tajik military captured 10 residents of the Internatsional Kyrgyz village along with the head of the village. They were later returned.

As a result of the armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border on April 28, 89 houses, a school, kindergarten, infirmary, police station and building of the village administration were set on fire in Maksat village.

On the evening of April 29, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed a statement and protocol about the cessation of armed conflict and withdrawal of personnel and military equipment to the places of permanent deployment.

However, in spite of this, the Tajik side attacked the border village of Leilek. There were attacks on houses of civilians, school, kindergarten, clinic and gas stations of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Kyrgyzstan considered the actions of the Tajik side as military aggression.

According to an of official data, 190 Kyrgyzstanis were injured, 36 were killed, including two minor children.