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Situation in Tajikistan’s Badakhshan returns to normal

The special mission was organised after the murder on July 21 of Tajikistan’s General of special forces Abdullo Nazarov

DUSHANBE, August 26 (Itar-Tass) — Over a thousand military were withdrawn from Tajikistan’s Badakhshan over past two days.

They participated in a special mission of the governmental forces, press secretary of Khorog’s region Rakhmon Gulzor said in a telephone conversation on Sunday. “The withdrawal of the military was organised in line with the agreement between the region, the headquarters of the governmental forces and representatives of protesters with participation of international organisations.”

The special mission was organised after the murder on July 21 of Tajikistan’s General of special forces Abdullo Nazarov.

Gulzor could not name the exact number of additional forces brought to Khorog, stating that there are no military in the regional centre, the situation had returned to normal, people walk about the city, and all stores are open.

“More good news – after a month of silence, the mobile and ground telephone communication are working,” he said adding “the communication with some distanced regions is not working smoothly, but only for purely technical reasons.”

Meanwhile, a group of prosecutors from Dushanbe continues investigation of General Abdullo Nazarov’s murder. They question as eyewitnesses former commanders Tolib Aiyembekov and Makhmadbokir Makhmadbokirov. “They remain in Khorog in exchange for a written promise not to leave the city, investigators are working with them, however, no accusations have been presented to anyone,” the press secretary said.

Unsanctioned protest rallies continue in that region since July 24. A week earlier, another aggravation of the situation was caused by the murder of a former commander Imomnazar Imomnazarov, who was considered a non-formal leader in Badakhshan. Thousands protesters went into the city’s streets demanding investigation of that crime and withdrawal of the governmental troops. On August 23, negotiations between the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, leaders of law enforcers and representatives of the civil society resulted in signing of an agreement, where the governmental troops are withdrawn from the territory of the region and all participants in unsanctioned rallies are exempted from criminal responsibility.