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All Kyrgyz nations held hostage in Uzbek enclave released

Sixteen people were released after the talks with representatives of the Uzbek side

BISHKEK, January 7 (Itar-Tass) — All Kyrgyz nations who had been held hostage in Uzbekistan’s Sokh enclave located in Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region were released, Kyrgyzstan’s state border service told Itar-Tass on Monday.

“Sixteen people were released after the talks with representatives of the Uzbek side,” the source said adding that last night another 14 hostages were freed. “At present, there are no nationals of Kyrgyzstan that are held hostage in Uzbekistan.”

Residents of Uzbekistan’s Sokh enclave took Kyrgyz citizens hostage almost 48 hours ago protesting against Kyrgyzstan’s construction of a border checkpoint on the border with the enclave. As a result of the clashes several people were injured.

Uzbekistan’s enclave of Sokh is located in Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region. Its population totals around 60,000, approximately 90 percent of them are ethnic Tajiks.

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