Tajik side will not achieve anything through provocations, says expert

Bishkek, April 30, 2021 . / Kabar /. On April 28, a situation on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan escalated after citizens of Tajikistan began installing video surveillance cameras at the water intake in the village of Kok-Tash in Batken region. As a result of a joint altercation, residents of the two countries began throwing stones at each other. Subsequently, the Tajik side began shooting at passing cars of Kyrgyz citizens with hunting rifles.

The next day, an exchange of fire began in the Golovnoi area between the military units of the sides. During the exchange of fire, Kyrgyz civilians and servicemen were wounded. Toward evening, the Tajik side opened fire at the border guard outposts.

Public figure, Major General of Justice Kubatbek Kozhonaliyev spoke about the situation on the border between the countries.

The expert shared that according to all official and unofficial sources, the provocation started from the Tajik armed structures. This was also recorded by law enforcement agencies.

The reason for the conflict was the installation of a video camera on the Golovnoi fence.

“According to some data, Governor of Kyrgyzstan’s Batken Oblast Omurbek Suvanaliyev stated that head of Tajikistan’s Sughd Region agreed to the removal, but he did not comply with this order. As a result, a verbal altercation began, which escalated into a full-scale border conflict. I must say that the facts of using not only firearms, but also mortars have been fixed by our law enforcement bodies. Probably, there is a video in the network showing how our frontier outpost was set on fire by mortar shelling. All this will be presented to the Tajik side during the investigation of the incident. I think this conflict should be resolved peacefully and diplomatically in the future, as our president said,” Kozhonaliyev noted.

The expert emphasized the need to prevent the spread of unverified and unreliable information, so as not to disturb society.

"All the fake news about Leilek becoming an enclave, that travel there is closed, is not true. In such a difficult time, citizens need to rally around our commander-in-chief President and prevent this conflict from escalating. Orders have been given to the relevant services and officials, which are now being implemented. As far as I know, the Tajik side is in favor of peaceful negotiations. They realized that they can't achieve anything with such provocations", Kubatbek Kozhonaliyev concluded.