DUSHANBE, June 18, Asia-Plus — Some 300 people gathered near the building of the GBAO regional government in Khorog today morning, at around 9:00 a.m.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Alim Sherzamonov, the head of the regional organization of the Social-Democratic Party (SDPT), said that people are demonstrating against bringing additional troops into region. “We have known about bringing additional troops into Gorno Badakhshan from reliable sources,” Sherzamonov said, noting that part of them is currently inside the building of the GBAO police directorate, while others are inside the building of the GABO security directorate.
“I also know that the GBAO governor Qosim Qodir has already sent his family to Dushanbe,” said Sherzamonov. “The other reason for alarm is the fact that a session of the GBAO regional legislature (Majlis) scheduled for June 20 has been postponed for uncertain time without any explanation given.”
Sherzamonov stressed that although he is activist of the SDPT but he his participation in the demonstration is not connected with political ambitions of the party he represents in the region. “The demonstration is a social protest of people who gathered here to draw attention to security problems and hard socioeconomic situation,” Sherzamonov said.
“Besides, yesterday we met with the deputy GBAO governor, Muhabbatsho Ruzadorov, and he admitted that administrative crisis is now observed in the region: drugs are being smuggled into the region from Afghanistan without any problems and cars with tinted glasses are moving freely about the region and local authorities are not able to cope with this situation,” said Sherzamonov, “According to him, the additional troops have been brought into the region to put the situation right.”
Sherzamonov noted that according to other regional officials, the additional troops have been brought into the region for maintaining public order in the region during President Rahmon’s visit to Gorno Badakhshan scheduled for the next month.
The source at the GBAO police directorate told Asia-Plus today that in fact there is an unauthorized gathering of people near the GBAO regional government’s building. According to him, the demonstration has been organized by heads of some mahallas (community) of Khorog.
In the meantime, an official with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has not confirmed information about bringing additional troops into Gorno Badakhshan. He just said that Deputy Interior Minister, Rauf Yusupov, heading a working group numbering not more than 20 persons is currently in Khorog to make preparations for the upcoming visit of President Emomali Rahmon to the region.
According to Asia-Plus’ reporter for Khorog, representatives of the demonstrators are currently conducting negotiations with senior representatives of the GBAO police directorate.
