DUSHANBE, January 16, 2014, Asia-Plus – On Wednesday January 15, Kyrgyz Embassy in Dushanbe released a statement regarding recent border incident.

The statement, in particular, notes that Kyrgyz workers were doing planned work on a bypass road that connects Kyrgyz border villages of Aksai and Tamdyk when 40 Tajik border guards came and demanded that Kyrgyz workers stop construction works.  They allegedly provoked a verbal skirmish with Kyrgyz borders guards and used firearms against Kyrgyz servicemen.

Kyrgyz Embassy says Kyrgyzstan has repeatedly informed Tajikistan about construction of that by-pass road.

According to the statement, Tajik servicemen used grenade launchers and mortars.  Six Kyrgyz servicemen were wounded in exchange of gunfire, the statement said.

For the purpose of preventing interethnic conflict and ensuring security of residents of border areas, the Kyrgyz side was reportedly forced to make a decision to close all border crossing checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border till stabilization of the situation.

Kyrgyz diplomatic mission notes that the Tajik side should officially admit illegitimacy of actions of its servicemen.