Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan: Apparent War Crimes in Border Conflict
Forces from both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan killed and injured civilians in apparent war crimes during their brief but intense armed border conflict in September 2022.
The families of victims deserve justice and reparations to pave the way for a rights-respecting resolution to this ongoing dispute.
The two countries should promptly investigate the violations by their forces, hold those responsible to account, and provide redress. International partners should provide support.
The 89-page report, “‘When We Moved, They Shot’: Laws of War Violations in the September 2022 Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan Border Conflict,” is the most detailed human rights account to date of the 4 days of fighting in 2022, from September 14 to 17. Kyrgyz forces shot at ambulances and cars carrying civilians and, in 1 incident, killed at least 10 civilians in a laser-guided bomb attack on a town square. Tajik forces shot at cars carrying civilians, unlawfully killed at least eight civilians in various circumstances, and allowed the large-scale looting and burning of private property in Kyrgyz villages.
“Civilians living in the disputed border areas of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan paid a heavy price for the callous conduct of both Kyrgyz and Tajik forces during the fighting last September,” said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The families of victims deserve justice and reparations to pave the way for a rights-respecting resolution to this ongoing dispute.”
The families of victims deserve justice and reparations to pave the way for a rights-respecting resolution to this ongoing dispute.
The two countries should promptly investigate the violations by their forces, hold those responsible to account, and provide redress. International partners should provide support.
The 89-page report, “‘When We Moved, They Shot’: Laws of War Violations in the September 2022 Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan Border Conflict,” is the most detailed human rights account to date of the 4 days of fighting in 2022, from September 14 to 17. Kyrgyz forces shot at ambulances and cars carrying civilians and, in 1 incident, killed at least 10 civilians in a laser-guided bomb attack on a town square. Tajik forces shot at cars carrying civilians, unlawfully killed at least eight civilians in various circumstances, and allowed the large-scale looting and burning of private property in Kyrgyz villages.
“Civilians living in the disputed border areas of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan paid a heavy price for the callous conduct of both Kyrgyz and Tajik forces during the fighting last September,” said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis and conflict researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The families of victims deserve justice and reparations to pave the way for a rights-respecting resolution to this ongoing dispute.”
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