BISHKEK, January 7 (RIA Novosti) - Kyrgyz prosecutors launched a criminal case Monday over an alleged attack on a guard post bordering Uzbekistan’s territory.
A large group of residents of the Uzbek enclave of Sokh in the Ferghana Valley reportedly attacked Kyrgyz border guards at a local post over the weekend near the village of Charbak. The villagers tried to seize firearms from the frontier guards, injuring some them.
The incident took place when the Kyrgyz guards were erecting supports for electricity transmission lines.
According to the Kyrgyz media reports, the enclave resident have taken hostages from nearby Kyrgyz villages, including women and children. In course of negotiations some were released Sunday night, while 22 people are still held in the enclave.
“A criminal case was opened over attacks on army officials and holding of hostages,” the prosecutors said on Monday.
Kyrgyzstan’s Defense Council said Monday that the incident resulted from “discrepancies in the border-crossing regulations” and unsanctioned activities at the frontier post, which prompted discontent of the enclave residents.
Currently, all border posts at the province of Sokh, surrounded by the Kyrgyz territory and populated mostly by Tajiks, have been blocked.
