DUSHANBE, February 3, 2014, Asia-Plus:
January 2 — Tajik migrant worker, who worked at one of commercial stalls in the Russian city of Chita, was shot to death.
January 3 – A new bank appeared in Tajikistan. According to the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) press center, Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) Microcredit-Deposit Organization (MDO) Spitamen Capital has been reorganized into CJSC Spitamen Bank, bringing the total number of banks operating in the country to 17.
January 4 – Five Tajik nationals, including 8-month-old baby and 4-year-old baby, were killed in a fire that broke out in residential building in the village of Temnikovo, Moscow oblast. According to the results of the preliminary investigation, the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction and propane gas cylinder explosion.
January 9 – Border talks between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan took place in the Tajik northern city of Isfara. The sides reported discussed interaction between the power-wilding structures of the two countries to ensure maintenance of public order in the disputed border areas.
January 10 – The first 50 MW unit of the Dushanbe-2 combined heat and power (CHP) plant, built by China’s Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co. Ltd (TBEA) was introduced into operation. The second unit of this coal-powered CHP plant is expected to be introduced into operation during the first quarter of this year, increasing the plant’s capacity to 100 megawatt.
January 11 – Five Kyrgyz border guards, one Kyrgyz policeman, and two Tajik border guards were hospitalized with injuries after tensions escalated into exchanges of gunfire along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. Reports indicate an argument broke out between the Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards when the Tajik guards demanded Kyrgyz construction workers halt work on a road in a disputed area of the two countries” border.
January 13 – Tajik government delegation, led by the Security Council Secretary Abdurahim Qahhorov, met in the administrative center of Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region with Kyrgyz officials to discuss causes of a recent border clash, according to the Sughd regional administration. The Kyrgyz delegation was reportedly led by Deputy Interior Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Major-General Kursan Asanov. The sides discussed issues related to preparations for a joint patrol of the disputed segments of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, a source at the Sughd regional administration said. They reportedly pointed to the necessity of taking adequate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
January 14 – Kyrgyzstan withdrew its ambassador to Tajikistan and also unilaterally closed all border crossing points (BCPs) on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.
January 15 – A meeting of Tajik and Kyrgyz delegations that took place in the Tajik northern city of Isfara resulted in signing of a protocol on mitigation of tensions on the disputed segments of the Tajik-Kyrgyz border. An official source at one of Tajik power-wielding structures says the Tajik delegation members included Abdurahim Qahhorov, Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan, Rajabali Rahmonali, Commander of Tajik Border Troops, Iskandar Rajabov, Deputy Interior Ministry of Tajikistan, as well as senior officers of the Regional Border Directorate for Sughd Province. The Kyrgyz side was represented by Alik Mamyrkulov, Head of the Defense and Public Law Department under the Government of Kyrgyzstan, Iskender Mambetaliyev, Chief of Main Staff of the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan, and senior officers of the Regional Border Directorate for Batken Region. The protocol reportedly provides for setting up a joint commission for studying the actual strengths of border units and police special units.
January 18 – By president’s decree President’s Executive Office was reorganized and the apparatus of presidential state advisors was reorganized into the apparatus of presidential aides.
January 18-20 – Kyrgyzstan held reservists” military training in the southern Batken province near a disputed section of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz Service reported. All males up to 50 years of age residing in the region were drafted for the training. Army units reportedly also took part in the three-day military exercises.
January 19 – Umedjon Tojiyev, the member of Tajikistan”s Islamic Revival Party (IRP) in a prison hospital in Tajikistan”s northern city of Khujand. Prison physicians said that Tojiyev had died of a heart attack but his relatives say he may have died after being tortured while in custody. Tojiyev, 34, was arrested in October in the northern city of Isfara and charged with extremism. In November, he was hospitalized after jumping from a third-floor window at the police station.
January 24 – Tajikistan and Russia exchanged notes on the government-to-government agreements on the status of the Russian military base in Tajikistan, duty-free Russian oil production deliveries to Tajikistan and labor migration cooperation;
– Visiting Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. They sides reportedly discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation;
– Co-chaired by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, the 12 session of the Tajik-Russian intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation took place in Dushanbe.
January 25 – By president’s decree Colonel-General Sherali Khairulloyev, who had previously served as Minister of Defense, has been appointed the Aide to the President for Security Affairs.
January 27 – U.S. Army Major-General Michael K. Nagata, commander of Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), visited Tajikistan to meet with senior U.S. and Tajik officials on issues of bilateral security cooperation and regional interest, U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe reported. During his visit, Nagata met with U.S. Ambassador Susan Elliott and discussed areas of continued military cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan, including SOCCENT’s relationship with the Tajik Special Operations Forces. He and senior military officials reportedly also underscored SOCCENT’s support to stability and security in Central Asia.
January 28 – Kyrgyz and Tajik military units reportedly began withdrawing from a disputed section of the two countries” border. This agreement was reached at a meeting of the sides that took place in the Tajik northern city of Isfara. The Tajik delegation members included Sherali Khairulloyev, Aide to the President for National Security, Mahmadtohir Zokirov, Head of the State Committee for Land Management and Geodesy, Rajabali Rahmonali Commander of Tajik Border Troops, and several other high-ranking officials.
January 31 – Kyrgyz and Tajik officials agreed to expedite border demarcation in disputed areas. Tajik Prime Minister Murodali Alimardon and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Tokon Mamytov, agreed in Bishkek that the two countries” working groups on border delimitation must expedite their activities. The next meeting on border demarcation will be held in February.
