DUSHANBE, June 11, 2014, Asia-Plus – British Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Robin Ord-Smith, has failed to meet with the Gorno Badakhshan civil society activists during his working visit to Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).

Ambassador Ord-Smith arrived in Khorog on June 10.

According to Alim Sherzamonov, the head of the Social-Democratic Party (SDP)’s organization for GBAO, Ambassador Robin Ord-Smith put up at Serena Hotel.

The six-room Serena Inn is located on the bank of the Panj River with a view of Afghanistan on the opposite bank.

“On June 10, British Ambassador held talks with representatives of GBAO law enforcement authorities and local government,” said Sherzamonov.  “When it was our turn to meet with Ambassador Robin Ord-Smith, it was almost 11:00 pm and exchange of fire started on the Afghan territory.  Ambassador Robin Ord-Smith and his assistant were taken from there to president’s residence in Khorog.”

Wednesday morning, Ambassador Ord-Smith returned to Serena Inn but exchange of fire started again on the contiguous territory, Sherzamonov said, noting that military hardware was brought up to the border.

British Ambassador was to fly to Dushanbe by helicopter at 11:00 am but since the weather was unsuitable for flying, he left Khorog for Dushanbe by car, Sherzamonov noted.  

We will recall that police detained about a dozen protesters who rallied in front of the British Embassy in Dushanbe on June 10.   The protesters threw stones at the embassy building.  According to some witnesses, the protesters also smashed the embassy''s security cameras and scuffled with security personnel.  The gathering was not sanctioned by city authorities.  Embassy officials confirmed to Asia-Plus that the incident took place but refused to comment.