In Rushan, two people died and eight others were injured

As a result of clashes with security forces in the center of the Rushan district, at least two local residents have died and eight have been injured.

Photo: Internet

This morning, on May 18, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan accused the protesters in the Rushan district of “terrorism” and announced the start of a security operation against them.

Tajik scholar and native of Gorno-Badakhshan, Umed Jaihani, citing his sources, reported:

“Clashes began around 7 a.m. local time and are still ongoing. It is reported that residents are being shot at from helicopters and mortars.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports the involvement of foreign forces, stating that “criminals,” with the support of international terrorist organizations, obtained weapons and ammunition outside the country and “attracted foreign mercenaries to carry out terrorist acts and other forms of provocation.” However, the agency did not name these organizations.

The authorities of Tajikistan were unable to suppress protests in the city of Khorog this morning, so “law enforcement officers are going door to door in the Rushan district to detain young people and take them to border posts or police stations.”

Our sources report that the situation is actually quite different from what the Ministry of Internal Affairs is stating. Peaceful residents gathered in the center of the district on May 17 to block a military convoy heading to Khorog, the administrative center of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), to disperse the protesters. This morning, security forces declared them all “terrorists” and began an “anti-terrorist” operation against these peaceful residents in the center of the Rushan district at 7 a.m.

Article 29 of the Constitution of Tajikistan states: “A citizen has the right to participate in assemblies, rallies, demonstrations, and peaceful marches established by law. No one may be forcibly compelled to participate in them.” However, Tajik authorities do not allow protests that do not align with the interests of the government.

On May 14, a new wave of protests began in Khorog. Protesters, including informal leader Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov, appealed to the authorities to hold a rally but received no response.

Residents organized a protest demanding the resignation of the regional chairman and the mayor of Khorog, the release of unlawfully detained citizens, but the authorities labeled them as a “criminal group” and “terrorists” and opened fire in response.