DUSHANBE, 20.10.2022 /NIAT «Khovar»/. “Despite the agreements to prevent the escalation of new conflicts on the Tajik-Kyrgyz state border, the military and political figures of Kyrgyzstan are continuing to contribute to inciting ethnic hatred, harming interstate relations,” the Directorate of the State Committee for National Security in Sughd said in its statement.

On October 19, 2022, during a press conference, the Minister of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic Bakytbek Bekbolotov made a statement that contradicts the resolution of border delimitation issues exclusively through diplomatic means. “There will be no peace between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,» he said. Bekbolotov pointed out that the problem of delimitation and demarcation of the border will continue until the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the state border line is carried out. However, despite this, they also announced the acquisition of the S-125 Pechora-2BM anti-aircraft missile system, which will be deployed in the Batken region.

The actions of the Minister of Defense run counter to the statements of the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic about the commitment of the government of Kyrgyzstan to the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue, taking into account the good neighborly relations of the two peoples.

This statement is aimed at aggravating the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border. Moreover, the position of a member of the government of the Kyrgyz Republic contradicts the signed bilateral protocols No. 39, No. 41 and No. 42, according to which issues related to the definition of borders should be resolved in the spirit of good neighborliness and mutual understanding. The deployment of additional air defense equipment to the Batken region is a violation of paragraph «e» of Protocol No. 42 from September 25, 2022.

The State Committee for National Security Border Troops Directorate in Sughd states that the provocative statements of political and public figures of the Kyrgyz Republic lead to an increase in tensions at the border, loss of confidence, and contradict the obligations taken by the parties.

In this regard, they are calling for preventing the dissemination of statements by officials of the Kyrgyz Republic which can lead to an escalation of tensions, inciting enmity, and hatred between the two peoples.

                                                                       PHOTO: NIAT Khovar