«We express our readiness to assist the parties in reaching a long-term mutually acceptable solution to border issues, using the rich Russian experience of border delimitation, including with Central Asian neighbors,» said the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.
According to her, the Russian side is closely following the tense situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border that has escalated the day before.
«Taking into account the existing agreements between the Presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, we call on both sides to take all necessary measures to return the situation to the political and diplomatic field and jointly suppress any kind of provocation,» Maria Zakharova said.
Three shootouts occurred on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border on Wednesday. The border guards of Kyrgyzstan discovered a border detachment of Tajikistan in Bulak-Bashi area of Batken region. The military personnel of the neighboring country took up combat positions on a disputed section of the state border. The demands of the Kyrgyz border guards to leave the territory were ignored. Tajik border guards opened fire. In response, the servicemen of the Kyrgyz Republic also used weapons. Another shootout occurred in Pasky-Aryk area. The condition of one of the victims is extremely grave.
