The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan confirmed the death of a local resident during the protest in Khorog, the administrative center of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, reports Radio Ozodi.
The Tajik law enforcement department said that “ignorant young men made an armed attack on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the GBAO,” as a result of which three law enforcement officers were injured. This is the first official statement of the Tajik authorities on the situation in Khorog, which remains unstable for the last three days, the publication notes.
The message of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, widespread on the morning of May 17, states that a group of young residents of Khoroga “… committed an armed attack on employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in GBAO, who performed their official duties in the building of the regional court and blew up a hand grenade”. /p>
The message notes that the wounded law enforcement officials were hospitalized. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan emphasizes that “during the repelment of the armed attack, Z. Nazrishoev was injured and died in the hospital,” although several sources said that the young man died under other circumstances, Radio Ozodi emphasizes.
Tajikistan Ministry of Internal Affairs accused Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov, the unofficial leader of Badakhshan, who “acted at the head and at the direction of Ulfathonym Mamadshoeva and the person who is wanted, Alima Sherzamonov,”
Ozodi Radio recalls that on May 14, several hundred residents of Khorog went to the protest, demanding the resignation of the head of the mountain-Badakhshansky autonomous region Alisher Mirzonabot and the mayor of the city of Rizo Nazarzod, the removal of all the checkpoints in the regional center and the cessation of the persecution of the inhabitants of Badakhshan. Protesters gave the authorities time to consider their requirements until 16:00 on May 16. After the authorities of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region refused to consider the resignation of the head of the region and the mayor of Khorog, calling the requirements of the protesters illegal, on Monday a large group of local youth headed towards the regional administration. At the town of Chinak, they were met by law enforcement officers of Tajikistan, who used rubber bullets and tear gas. The Tajikistan Ministry of Internal Affairs confused that “during the operation, special tools were used to disperse the demonstration.” According to the law enforcement agency, a criminal case has been instituted against the organizers of the incident prosecutor’s office of GBAO.
It is also noted that in the absence of Internet access in Khorog, it is difficult to evaluate the current situation in this city.