Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan human rights movement and partners of People Changing the World human rights movement appealed to the international community — the UN, the OSCE, the EU with a request to help stop the military aggression by Tajikistan in the border zones of Batken region of Kyrgyzstan.

Human rights activists say that the use of wide-range explosive weapons in populated areas, which puts civilians at great risk and is prohibited by international humanitarian law (IHL), is unacceptable. They remind that IHL prohibits an attack directed against a civilian population or objects.

«Our organizations are fully convinced that attacks on the civilian population and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the border areas of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are unjustified and are a gross violation of IHL, international law and human rights. The invasion of Tajikistan into Kyrgyzstan and military aggression on the territory of a sovereign state are a gross violation of international law and the obligations assumed by the UN member states,» the appeal says.

Despite the published information about the agreement between the heads of the national security agencies of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on a ceasefire, we call on the international community, the UN, the OSCE to use all international mechanisms to stop the military aggression of the military forces of the Republic of Tajikistan against Kyrgyzstan.

From the appeal of Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan human rights center

They call for observance of the ceasefire, provision of necessary humanitarian assistance to the victims and their families, including all those who were forced to flee their homes due to threats to their lives and health, and an investigation that will identify those responsible for civilian casualties, destruction of civilian facilities and other violations of the international humanitarian law.

Human rights activists ask the international community, taking into account the consent of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, to take part in negotiations between the parties to the conflict in order to de-escalate tensions, provide humanitarian assistance to the local population at risk and launch the OSCE mechanism or international mechanisms of the UN and the EU to investigate human rights violations on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. They are asking international institutions for assistance to urge Kyrgyzstan to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Shooting began at several sites of the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the morning of September 16. According to the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security, at about 6 a.m. the Tajik side started firing at the border detachments and positions of the Kyrgyz side. Later, the Tajik side began mortar shelling of border outposts and border villages in Leilek and Batken districts. At least 42 people were wounded. Shooting continues for the third day. As a result of the armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, residents of seven villages in Batken and Leilek districts left their homes.