Tajik side starts shelling of Batken city, civilian infrastructure facilities destroyed

The Tajik side started shelling of Batken city. The vicinity of Batken airport and objects on the outskirts of the city came under fire from Tajik multiple launch rocket systems, the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan reported.

Objects of the city’s civil infrastructure were destroyed.

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.

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.

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.