DUSHANBE, September 20, 2012, Asia-Plus — Experts’ opinions on the results of president’s visit to the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) have differed. Some of local experts believe that the visit has demonstrated that Gorno Badakhshan is under full control of the central government, while other experts think that Rahmon’s visit to Gorno Badakhshan has not solved many problems that arose in society after a special operation carried out by government forces in Khorog.
“A working visit of President Emomali Rahmon to Gorno Badakhshan took place despite predictions of external and internal opponents of the government,” said Sayfullo Safarov, the deputy director of the center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan.
According to him, the president has proved during his numerous meetings with residents of the region that “he is really the people’s president being guided by wisdom of his people.”
During his visit to the region, President Rahmon demonstrated once again that he will not make concessions to organized crime groups, a senior expert from Tajik think tank noted.
“President’s visit to Khorog has refuted the opinion that Gorno Badakhshan is allegedly not under full control of the central government,” Safarov said.
Meanwhile, Mahmadali Hayit, the deputy head of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) of Tajikistan, says that Rahmon’s visit to Gorno Badakhshan has not solved many problems that arose in society after a special operation carried out in Khorog by government forces left some 70 people dead.
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, a former warlord from the civil war, 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.
The authorities demand that people they consider responsible for the murder of the GBAO regional security chief be handed over to face justice.
