Kyrgyz, Russian presidents discuss Kyrgyz-Tajik border situation over phone

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov discussed the Kyrgyz-Tajik border situation over the phone with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Central Asian country’s presidential press service said on Sunday.

Japarov informed Putin of the current situation, the number of Kyrgyz people who died and were wounded, destruction of social infrastructure in the Batken region's villages bordering Tajikistan, according to a statement by the press service.

The presidents stressed the significance of an immediate regulation of the situation between the Central Asian states, particularly through diplomatic means, the statement added.

Border clashes started on Wednesday, with the two sides later agreeing to a cease-fire, but both sides accused each other of breaching the deal, and Kyrgyzstan declared a state of emergency in the Batken region late Friday.

Kyrgyzstan's death toll from the border clashes with Tajikistan rose to 36, with 129 others getting injured, its Health Ministry said on Sunday.

Kyrgyzstan also said nearly 136,000 residents were evacuated from villages near Tajikistan.

In a statement on Saturday, the UN secretary-general's spokesman called on the leadership of the two countries to engage in dialogue for a lasting cease-fire. "Both sides should take full advantage of the existing mechanisms on the ground to defuse tensions," Stephane Dujarric said.