DUSHANBE, February 9, 2009, Asia-Plus — On February 7, the Tajik Embassy in Moscow released a statement protesting “actions planned and sponsored by certain Russian circles.”
Tajik Ambassador to Russia, Mr. Abdulmajid Dostiyev, told Asia-Plus by phone today that a group numbering three persons on February 7 handed over a letter to the Embassy on behalf of the Russian nationalist organization, Russovet (Russian Council), in the presence of a large number of reporters.
“The letter addressed to the Tajik president describes the present political and socioeconomic situation in Tajikistan and Tajik government’s migration policy in a tendentious form,” said Ambassador Dostiyev, noting that the embassy sees signs of sponsored and planned actions on behalf of the certain Russian circles in this letter that is proved by presence of the large number of reporters at the embassy’s building during the handover of the letter.
“The Embassy of Tajikistan has officially informed the Russian side of the upcoming action of nationalists in advance,” said Dostiyev, “However, no measures have been taken to prevent the action.” They have just strengthened security control measures at the embassy.
The Tajik Embassy expressed concern that as the previous cases of manifestation of xenophobia and nationalism this action might also lead to a new wave of violence against Tajik nationals in the territory of Russia and called on Russian authorities to take all necessary measures to prevent such manifestations in the future.
