Tajik side was first to start shooting - Kyrgyz Security Council

Bishkek, Sept. 19, 2022 . / Kabar / . There is all the evidence that the Tajik side was the first to start shooting, Secretary of the Security Council of Kyrgyzstan Marat Imankulov said during a press conference at Kabar News Agency.

He added that before the start of shooting, the Kyrgyz special services received information about provocative preparations of the Tajik side.

Imankulov stressed that there was no logic in the actions of the Tajik side when they started shelling other territories of Kyrgyzstan.

"The conflict spread to other parts of the border. There is no logic here: the conflict started in one place, and they fired on all sections of the border in Batken and Leilek regions. There is evidence that the Tajik side was the first to start firing and shelling Kyrgyzstan's territory," the secretary of the Kyrgyz Security Council added.

"These figures are being updated every day because the search for missing servicemen is going on. As of today, 40 servicemen have died, this information is being verified, and there are also more than 70 wounded. There are casualties among civilians as well. Many objects have been destroyed and burned by direct hits from shells. Not only shelling, but after the evacuation, citizens of Tajikistan, unidentified persons burst into residents' houses and started setting them on fire. They looted and burned stores and houses. All this was recorded; an investigation and task force is working at the site. There is all audio and video evidence that the Tajik side was the first to start shooting and started large-scale shelling of Kyrgyz territory", said Imankulov.