The Main Border Guard Directorate of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Tajikistan has released a statement on an incident that occurred on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border yesterday afternoon.  

 A statement, in particular, says that residents of Tajikistan’s Vorukh exclave in Kyrgyzstan were making preparations for a working visit of President Emomali Rahmon and installed Tajik flag in the territory of Vorukh.  

At around 4:35 pm, citizens of Kyrgyzstan “prevented this action of the Tajik side.”  “They [Kyrgyz citizens] erected a roadside sign bearing the name of the village of Ak-Sai in Tajik territory,” says the statement. 

This reportedly sparked the clash, in which Kyrgyz villagers used hunting guns.  As a result, one resident of Vorukh – Jalol Qarayev, 52 – was killed and three others were wounded.  Besides, seven nationals of Tajikistan were injured by Kyrgyz stone throwing, according to the statement.

Taking the moment, citizens of Kyrgyzstan illegal blocked the Isfara-Vorukh road, the Tajik Main Border Guard Directorate says.        

The incident that took place just days before a meeting of the heads of two neighboring countries in Isfara is evidence of the fact that some circles in Kyrgyzstan do not want peace and stability on the border and resort to provocations, according to the statement.