The Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Maria Schmidt expressed concern regarding the killings of civilians in GBAO. Photo: Internet “I am concerned about reports of the deaths of residents of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan over the past two days. Violence is never a solution. OSCE […]
The Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Maria Schmidt expressed concern regarding the killings of civilians in GBAO.
Photo: Internet“I am concerned about reports of the deaths of residents of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan over the past two days. Violence is never a solution. OSCE commitments must be upheld by all,” Schmidt wrote on Twitter.
Helga Maria Schmidt, Secretary General of the OSCE
It is unclear what “commitments” the OSCE Secretary General was referring to. Likely, it pertains to Tajikistan’s commitments within the OSCE.
The situation in Khorog and the Rushan district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region has been unstable since the killing of Gulbiddin Ziebekov last November. Since May 16 of this year, the situation has significantly escalated.
On May 14, more than a thousand residents of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region held a protest in Khorog. The informal leader of the region, Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov, was present. Residents demanded adherence to the law, the rule of law, and the release of unlawfully detained citizens.
The authorities accused the protesters of “terrorism” and “extremism.”
On May 16, law enforcement opened fire on local residents, resulting in the death of 30-year-old Zamir Nazrishoev, and six others were injured.
The press center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan reported on May 18 that as a result of an “anti-terrorist operation,” eight people were killed, 11 were injured, and more than 70 residents of the Rushan district were detained.
The press center’s statement indicated that one officer was killed in the attack, and 13 servicemen sustained serious injuries.
Today, on May 19, law enforcement agencies handed over the bodies of 17 deceased protesters to their relatives. This was reported by Pamir Daily News, citing a resident of Vamara.
“In total, 17 bodies with signs of torture and injuries were handed over to their families today. Most of them were injured just yesterday, but snipers did not allow people to reach them to save them, only taking their own soldiers. These young guys bled out all day and died,” the source reported.