Riots spread to another Soviet republic

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 10

Riots spread to another Soviet republic

NZPA-Reuter Moscow Riots in Soviet Central Asia, in which more than 100 people in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have died this month, have spread to the republic of Tajikistan and two more people have died, according to a local newspaper. The Communist Party daily, “Kommunist Tadzhikistana,” said the trouble was sparked off by the arrival in the republic of Meskhetian Turks fleeing from attacks in the Uzbek region of Fergana, where the latest wave of violence started.

The June 13 edition of the newspaper, which reached Moscow yesterday, said a group of strangers driving unmarked cars but apparently from Fergana arrived in the Tajik region of Asht, just across the border, and began stirring up unrest “At encampments set up for the refugees, the hooligans provoked clashes with military guards and began shooting at them,” the daily reported. It said the guards had issued a number of warnings, but these had failed to stop the attack-

ers, and the guards “were obliged to resort to firearms”. “As a result, one person was killed on the spot and six wounded, one of whom died on his way to hospital.” “Kommunist Tadzhikistana” said the violence in Asht occurred on the night of June 10. The next day, 2000 Meskhetian Turks who had fled to Asht from Uzbekistan were moved from Soviet Central Asia. There has been no mention in the Soviet central press of the violence in Tajikistan but

several newspapers reported the riots in Kazakhstan, which were also directed against immigrants from the Caucasus region. Four people were killed in several days of clashes in the Kazak city of Novy Uzen, east of the Caspian Sea. Troops were sent to restore order but strikes and attempts at industrial sabotage have continued in several districts of the oil and gas producing city. “Izvestia” said yesterday that no further incidents had been reported in Novy Uzen.