DUSHANBE, August 27, 2012, Asia-Plus – Communication lines to Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region were restored on Saturday, August 25.
We will recall that communication lines to Khorog were cut off by order of the Communications Service under the Government of Tajikistan on July 24 since a special operation targeting illegal armed formation was launched in Khorog. The fixed-communication line was restored little later.
Besides, Tajik law enforcement authorities say the Ministry of Defense and the National Guards began to withdraw their extra troops from Gorno Badakhshan on August 25.
The source added that Tolib Ayombekov, a former warlord from the civil war who had been deputy chief of border unit in the Ishkashim district until recently, was currently in Khorog. Tolib Ayombekov is blamed by the authorities for the murder of the GBAO regional security chief Abdullo Nazarov. Ayombekov has given a written undertaking not to leave the city, the source said.
We will recall that the clashes began in Khorog on July 24 when government forces launched a military operation against what it called “militants” following the murder of the regional security chief Abdullo Nazarov on July 21.
The authorities have blamed Tolib Ayombekov for the murder of Abdullo Nazarov. Hundreds of troops have reportedly poured into Khorog to hunt down Ayombekov.
Authorities also accused Ayombekov of drug-trading and smuggling tobacco and precious stones.
Tolib Ayombekov has denied the accusations and said the government is using Nazarov”s death as a pretext for cementing its grip over Gorno Badakhshan. Tolib Ayombekov surrendered to the authorities on August 12.
