2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes explained

Conflict:2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes
Partof:the post-Soviet conflicts
Date:28 April – 1 May 2021[1]
Result:Ceasefire
Place:Kök-Tash, Batken, Batken District, Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border
Combatant1: Kyrgyzstan
Combatant2: Tajikistan
Commander1:
Commander2:
Units1:
Units2:
Casualties1:3 killed (per Kyrgyzstan)[5]
Casualties2:9 killed (per Tajikistan)[6]
11 killed (per )[7]
1 BTR-70 destroyed[8]
Casualties3:33 Kyrgyzstani and 10 Tajikistani civilians killed
190 Kyrgyzstani and 87 Tajikistani civilians injured

A three-day border conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan began on 28 April 2021. The clashes stemmed from a long-running dispute over a water supply facility near the village of Kök-Tash.[9] Tajik media raised some concern over military drills in Batken prior to the conflict.[10]

Timeline

Pre-ceasefire

April

On 28 April, forces of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border between Kök-Tash and Khojai A'lo, started the clashes, resulting in four deaths and dozens of injuries.[11] [12] The initial clashes were fought with fists and thrown stones, but quickly escalated to gunfire, with reports of heavy weaponry.[13] The following day clashes resumed, with reported incidents in the Kyrgyz village of Kok-Terek and some other villages in the Batken and Leylek Districts, and with at least 41 people killed from both sides and roughly 10,000 people evacuated.[14] The same day the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed to a ceasefire at the border.[15] On 30 April, Tajikistan acknowledged the ceasefire in a statement published by its state information service.[16] The ceasefire was broken twice by Tajiks during the conflict, however, including the night of 29 April.[17]

May

On 1 May, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a decree that declares a two-day nationwide mourning,[18] accusing Tajikistan of building-up troops and military equipment on the border. The Kyrgyz side also accused Tajik forces of opening fire on Kyrgyz vehicles in the area, while a Tajik spokesman speaking from Dushanbe said that the country was sticking to the ceasefire and pull-out of troops.[19] Musurmanbek Tursumatov, representative of the regional administrator of the Batken Region, said that Tajik forces had blocked the Osh-Batken-Isfana road to Vorukh despite the ceasefire coming into effect.[20] That same day both countries also agreed to a new ceasefire[21] following minor new border clashes, which includes withdrawing troops from the border. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged both countries to honor the new agreement.[22] [23]

On 2 May, around 33,388 civilians in Kyrgyzstan were evacuated from the Batken Region near the border.[24] The Kyrgyz Ministry of the Interior and Tajikistan report that the situation at the border is stable and calm. Nonetheless, an unexploded air-to-land rocket was later discovered at a house near the border in Batken.[25]

On 3 May, both countries completed the withdrawal of troops from the border.[26] The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon also ordered that all residential buildings destroyed in Chorku be restored.[27] On 6 May, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reports that 136 houses and 84 facilities in the Batken region have been destroyed.[28] On 10 May, citizens in the Batken region returned home for the first time since evacuating the region.[29] On 18 May, officials in both countries announced that they had agreed to joint security controls along disputed border.[30]

Post-ceasefire

July

On 9 July, despite the ceasefire, a clash between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards killed one Kyrgyz serviceman.[31] According to the Kyrgyz side, their patrol unit on horseback was fired upon by the Tajiks in Leylek.[32]

Casualties

During the four-day conflict, at least 55 people were confirmed killed: 36 died in Kyrgyzstan and 19 in Tajikistan. At least 163 people were wounded in Kyrgyzstan. More than 33,000 people had been evacuated from the area where fighting was taking place.[33]

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health and Social Development stated that overall both military and civilian were killed in the clashes. It also stated that most of the dead and wounded were civilians. Some of the civilian deaths occurred when Kyrgyz villagers fled their homes in panic under Tajik mortar fire. Among the killed were a sixth-grader girl and her mother, who, according to Kyrgyz reports, were shot.[34] On 3 May, the death toll for Kyrgyzstan reached to 36 after a 4-year-old boy named Abidin Tursunbaev was killed. Tajikistan also admitted that there are deaths on their side in clashes.[35] [36] On 4 May, the number of Tajiks killed at the border increased to 19, including eight border guards and one OMON (special police unit) officer.[37] On 5 May, the death toll during the clashes reached to 55.[38] On 27 January 2022, clashes resumed that resulted in the deaths of 2 people, further adding to the number of casualties.

War crimes

On 30 April 2021, Human Rights Watch reported that armed Tajiks in civilian clothing had burned down all 17 houses in the Kyrgyz village of Kok-Terek, and 135 houses in Marksat, Arka, International and other 2 villages were destroyed and burnt by Tajik military. The local unprotected population was under mortar and artillery fire. Leilek District. The Kyrgyz authorities also stated that a school was burned.[39] On 2 May, the Kyrgyzstan Interior Ministry launched 11 criminal probe investigations into the events on the border.[40] On 3 May, the prosecutor general's office of Tajikistan launched a criminal investigation into servicemen and citizens of Kyrgyzstan for "unleashing an aggressive war".[41] The Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office filed a case on the crime against the peace on 30 April and accused the Tajikistan Armed Forces of invading the country and seizing their sovereign territory.[42]

International reactions

UN-member states

Supranational organizations

The European Union welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached on 30 April, and expressed regret over the violence, as well as sympathy to those who had lost relatives or friends.[51]

The Secretary-General of the Turkic Council Baghdad Amreyev stated that "... the Turkic Council calls on the parties to continue exercising caution and take joint measures to stabilize the situation by refraining from any actions that may lead to further escalation of tension", and added it will continue maintaining its close contact with the "Government of brotherly Kyrgyzstan", a founding member of the Turkic Council.[52]

Non-governmental

Kyrgyzstanis in Germany and the United Kingdom organized rallies and protests at Tajikistani embassies. Additionally, citizens living in San Francisco protested in support of Batken and call for international institutions to bring President Rahmon to justice.[53]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree ceasefire after border clashes. Reuters. 1 May 2021.
  2. News: 10 May 2021 . Таджикский генерал милиции стал фигурантом уголовного дела в Киргизии . . 4 March 2024 . ru . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606091202/https://www.interfax.ru/world/765265 . live.
  3. News: 5 May 2021 . После конфликта. Как выглядит стратегический водозабор «Головной» сегодня . 24.KG . 4 March 2024 . ru . 6 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220306094053/https://24.kg/proisshestvija/192928_posle_konflikta_kak_vyiglyadit_strategicheskiy_vodozabor_golovnoy_segodnya/amp/ . Местность охраняют сотрудники отдела специального назначения «Шер» Внутренних войск МВД. . live.
  4. News: 4 May 2021 . Конфликт без посредников. Кто выиграл от войны на границе Киргизии и Таджикистана . . 4 March 2024 . ru . 10 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710145556/https://carnegiemoscow.org/commentary/84454 . В СМИ и в соцсетях много видеодоказательств того, что армия Таджикистана заранее вырыла окопы и пригнала к границам всю свою мощь: танки Т-72, вертолеты Ми-24, которые сбрасывали неуправляемые авиационные ракеты С-5, бронетранспортеры БТР-70, гранатометы РПГ-7 . live.
  5. News: 7 May 2021 . В Киргизии сообщили о еще одном пострадавшем в конфликте с Таджикистаном . . 4 March 2024 . ru . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606174452/https://www.interfax.ru/world/764961 . live.
  6. News: 4 May 2021 . СМИ сообщили о гибели 19 таджикистанцев в апрельском конфликте с Киргизией . . 4 March 2024 . ru . 23 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231023115323/https://www.interfax.ru/world/764540 . live.
  7. News: 5 May 2021 . Число жертв приграничного конфликта с таджикской стороны достигло 20. ВИДЕО . . 4 March 2024 . ru.
  8. News: 29 April 2021 . Вооруженное столкновение на границе Киргизии и Таджикистана — трансляция . . 4 March 2024 . ru . 21 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220521192754/https://regnum.ru/news/society/3257247.html . Первое фото уничтоженной в ходе эскалации на киргизско-таджикской границе бронетехники. БТР-70, предположительно, ВС Таджикистана, который был поражён огнём сопредельной стороны. . live.
  9. Web site: Imanaliyeva . Ayzirek . Ibragimova . Kamila . Leonard . Peter . 29 April 2022 . Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan forces exchange gunfire in worst border flareup in years . 29 April 2021 . eurasianet.org . en.
  10. Web site: Kyrgyz president attends Security 2021 and Formation South 2021 military exercises . Информационное Агентство Кабар . en.
  11. Web site: Four die as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan armies clash on disputed border. The Guardian. Associated Press. 29 April 2021. 30 April 2021.
  12. Web site: Nadirov . Bahmanjor . 29 April 2021 . Погранвойска Таджикистана: Кыргызстан оккупировал водораспределительный пункт и провоцирует конфликт Новости Таджикистана ASIA-Plus . 2023-03-25 . asiaplustj.info.
  13. Web site: Putz . Catherine . 4 May 2021 . Violent Clashes at the Troublesome Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210503202839/https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/violent-clashes-at-the-troublesome-kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-border/ . 3 May 2021 . 28 July 2021 . The Diplomat.
  14. Web site: Over 40 dead in Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border clash. The Bharat Express. 30 April 2021. 1 May 2021. 2 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502053107/https://www.thebharatexpressnews.com/over-40-dead-in-tajikistan-kyrgyzstan-border-clash/. dead.
  15. News: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree to ceasefire . . 29 April 2021 . Foreign Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed to a ceasefire at the border starting on 20:00 local time (17:00 Moscow time) April 29, Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry announced Thursday..
  16. News: Deadly fighting on Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border kills at least 31. BBC News. 30 April 2021.
  17. Web site: Cease-Fire Between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Holding After Deadly Border Clashes. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  18. Web site: Kyrgyzstan declares two-day nationwide mourning for border clash victims. TASS.
  19. News: Kyrgyzstan accuses Tajikistan of amassing troops near border . . Kyrgyzstan accused neighbour Tajikistan on Saturday of building up troops and military equipment near their border, following clashes on Thursday in which 41 people were killed and more than a hundred wounded. . https://archive.today/20210501135519/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kyrgyzstan-accuses-tajikistan-amassing-troops-near-border-2021-05-01/ . 1 May 2021.
  20. News: Tajikistan blocks Osh-Batken-Isfana road, demands to reopen road to Vorukh enclave . The Tajik side blocked Osh-Batken-Isfana road in Tort-Kocho area and demanded to reopen the road to Vorukh enclave, Batken region administration's representative Musurmanbek Tursumatov told Turmush. [...] The road was blocked since around 10.00 a.m. of May 1 despite the agreement reached on reopening of the road on April 30. . . https://archive.today/20210501135815/https://akipress.com/news:657656:Tajikistan_blocks_Osh-Batken-Isfana_road,_demands_to_reopen_road_to_Vorukh_enclave/ . 1 May 2021 . 1 May 2021.
  21. Web site: Auyezov . Olzhas . Dzyubenko . Olga . Pirnazarov . Nazarali . 1 May 2021 . Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree Ceasefire after Border Clashes . Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree Ceasefire after Border Clashes.
  22. Web site: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree new ceasefire after border clashes. www.aljazeera.com.
  23. Web site: Heads of Kyrgyz, Tajik national security committees agree to stop fire, withdraw troops. 1 May 2021. Trend.Az.
  24. Web site: 33,388 Kyrgyzstanis evacuated from conflict zone in Batken. 2 May 2021. Trend.Az.
  25. Web site: Cease-Fire Said Holding After Worst Violence In Decades On Kyrgyz-Tajik Border. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  26. Web site: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan completing withdrawal of troops from border. news.am.
  27. Web site: Tajik leader orders to restore destroyed residential buildings in Chorkuh at the expense of the state | Tajikistan News ASIA-Plus. asiaplustj.info.
  28. Web site: 136 houses and 84 objects destroyed. Damage to Batken being calculated . akipress.com.
  29. Web site: Batken evacuees return home. akipress.com. 10 May 2021.
  30. Web site: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree To Joint Security Controls Along Disputed Border . RFERL . 18 May 2021 .
  31. Web site: 9 July 2021. Kyrgyz border guard killed in shootout with Tajik forces. 9 July 2021. The Times of India. en.
  32. Web site: Kyrgyz Soldier Dead After Latest Incident On Tajik Border . 2022-04-01 . RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty . en.
  33. News: Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan: Images of destruction after border clashes. BBC News. 2 May 2021. 2 May 2021.
  34. News: Чек арадагы ок атуудан каза тапкандар 33 кишиге жетти . BBC News Кыргыз Кызматы . The death toll from border shootings has risen to 33 . 30 April 2021 . 1 May 2021 . Kyrgyz .
  35. Web site: Kyrgyzstan's death toll in Kyrgyz-Tajik border conflict rises to 36. akipress.com.
  36. Web site: In first admission, Tajikistan concedes deaths in recent clashes. www.aljazeera.com.
  37. Web site: The number of Tajiks killed in recent clashes along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border updated. Asia-Plus. 4 May 2021.
  38. Web site: Abdülkerimov . Bahtiyar . 2021-05-05 . Death toll rises to 55 from Kyrgyz-Tajik border clashes . www.aa.com.tr.
  39. Web site: Jonathan . Pedneault . Syinat . Sultanalieva . Civilians Harmed in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Border Clashes . 30 April 2021 . 1 May 2021 . .
  40. Web site: Kyrgyz Interior Ministry launches 11 criminal probes into Kyrgyz-Tajik border events. akipress.com.
  41. Web site: Tajikistan launches criminal case against Kyrgyzstan for unleashing a war. news.am.
  42. Web site: Kudajarov . Borubek . 3 March 2021 . Генпрокуратура: Военные РТ вторглись в Кыргызстан с целью захвата территории . kaktus.media.
  43. Web site: Russia calls for calm between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. plenglish.com.
  44. Web site: Kyrgyzstan evacuates thousands after Tajikistan clashes . 30 April 2021 . 1 May 2021 . .
  45. Web site: Jamshaid . Umer . 1 May 2021 . Turkey Ready To Assist Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan In Settling Border Conflict – Source . UrduPoint.
  46. Web site: Tokayev offers condolences to Japarov over border conflict victims . 1 May 2021 . 1 May 2021 . AKIpress .
  47. Web site: Spokesman's Reaction to Border Clashes between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan . 30 April 2021 . 2 May 2021 .
  48. Web site: Afghan foreign ministry statement . 30 April 2021 . 2 May 2021 .
  49. Web site: Pakistan welcomes ceasefire agreement between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan. 3 May 2021.
  50. Web site: Pakistan welcomes ceasefire between Tajikistan, Kyrgyz. Irfan. Khan. 3 May 2021.
  51. Web site: Gotev . Georgi . 30 April 2021 . EU 'regrets' violence on Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border . 1 May 2021 . Euractive.
  52. Web site: Statement by the Secretary General of the Turkic Council on the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border. 30 April 2021. Turkic Council.
  53. Web site: Kyrgyz citizens abroad organize rallies in front of Tajik embassies. Информационное Агентство Кабар.

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