Putin called for calm in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan after more than 115 people were killed in fighting

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the rulers of the territories of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to avoid a new escalation of violence, following the deaths of at least 116 people in clashes between forces of both former Soviet republics of Central Asia. According to kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health, the total death toll rose to 59, after 22 more were reported in the last week due to the “armed conflict in the Batken region”, located in the southwest of the country and bordering Tajikistan, which also left 144 injured. For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan reported that 35 citizens died this week during the clashes and 25 were injured in the fighting between Wednesday and last Friday. Faced with the alarming situation of violence, last Friday both countries agreed to a ceasefire but then accused each other of having violated it on several occasions. Following this line, Putin spoke by phone with the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Sadir Japarov, and Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, to stop the military escalation on the border between the two countries. Putin urged the parties to avoid further escalation and to take steps to resolve the situation as soon as possible by exclusively peaceful, political and diplomatic means,” the Kremlin said in a statement. The president “reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to provide the necessary assistance to ensure stability in the border area between the two countries” and that both sides agreed to maintain communications.

Original source in Spanish