Leaders of the region’s countries expressed condolences to Rahmon

The presidents of Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan expressed condolences to the president of Tajikistan in connection with the natural disaster.

Photo: Internet

According to the president’s press service, on the morning of February 17, Vladimir Putin, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Sadyr Japarov expressed their condolences to Emomali Rahmon in connection with the death of 16 people in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

It is reported that on the morning of February 17, Emomali Rahmon had a phone conversation with the president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. At the beginning of the conversation regarding the natural disaster caused by an avalanche in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, the president of Uzbekistan “expressed sincere condolences and words of sympathy to the relatives and loved ones of the deceased and to the people of Tajikistan.”

It is also reported that a telegram of condolence was sent to the president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in which he asks to accept “deep condolences in connection with the tragic consequences of the avalanches in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. I ask you to convey words of sincere sympathy to the relatives and loved ones of the deceased, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to all those affected by this natural disaster.”

The president of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, on behalf of the entire people of Kyrgyzstan and personally, expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, emphasizing that he shares their grief. “With deep sorrow, I received the news of the death of people as a result of the avalanche in the city of Khorog in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of the Republic of Tajikistan, which occurred on February 15, 2023,” the statement said.

On the morning of February 15, avalanches occurred in several areas of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. According to the latest data, as a result of the avalanches in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, at least 16 people died and more than 20 were injured, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Emomali Rahmon, who has been in power in Tajikistan for 30 years, officially expressed condolences to the residents of the country for the first time in connection with the natural disaster.

However, many natives of Badakhshan doubt the sincerity of these condolences.

Some civil society activists called Emomali Rahmon’s condolences “dry, empty, and far from sincere condolences” and viewed them as an attempt to elicit sympathy from the residents of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region after the detention and imprisonment of dozens of civil society activists from this region.