DUSHANBE, October 30, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The Tajik MFA hopes that the Russian side will investigate thoroughly the incident and will respond to a note from the Tajik Embassy in Moscow.

An official at the Tajik MFA has confirmed that the Tajik Embassy in Moscow recently sent an official note to the Russian MFA demanding full investigation into attack on Tajik train.

“We hope that the Russian side will respond to our official notifying document within the next few days,” the source said, adding that the Tajik MFA controls that issue through the diplomatic mission in Moscow.

We will recall that Mohammad Egamzod, a spokesman for the Tajik Embassy in Moscow, told Asia-Plus on October 29 that around 20 young men of Slavic appearance, some shouting nationalist slogans, attacked the Moscow-Dushanbe train at the Ternovka railway station in midnight on October 26; several passengers were slightly injured while 20 train windows were broken.   

Tajik Embassy in Moscow reportedly asked Russia to impartially investigate the xenophobic attack that occurred with the connivance of local law enforcement authorities and representatives of the Yugo-Vostochnaya Railway and to cover all expenses related to the attack.

Meanwhile, Tajik Railways disputed this version of events, saying that the incident amounted to no more than a few children throwing stones at the train, breaking six windows.  “I would like to note that this happens everywhere, and even in our country children throw stones at trains,” Mahmadyusuf Abdurahmonov, the head of the Tajik Railways passenger service, told the Tajik Telegraph Agency (TajikTA) on October 29,