Russian human rights activist claims Tajik nationals held in Kyrgyz airports, Kyrgyz Border Service denies allegations and blames her of trying to incite hatred

AKIPRESS.COM - Russian human rights activist Valentina Chupik on her YouTube channel told that citizens of Tajikistan are getting detained at Bishkek and Osh airports and getting "inadequate measures" applied to them. On May 6, the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan denied accusations and called her statement an attempt to incite ethnic hatred. Citizens passing through the border of Kyrgyzstan are not subject to division into citizenship, nationality, race or ethnicity.
"Due to the armed attack of Tajikistan on the bordering territory of Kyrgyzstan, namely the Kyzyl-Bel road checkpoint, and in order to ensure the safety of citizens at checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, the passage of persons, vehicles and cargo was suspended since the beginning of the conflict," the statement said.
Additionally, for safety reasons, two transit ways were opened up in Kyrgyzstan for Tajikistanis traveling home through Kyrgyz airports: citizens of Tajikistan are taken to checkpoints for further travel through Uzbekistan or delivered to checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border Bordobo road and Karamyk road, where they are handed over to Tajik border guards. In both cases, citizens of Tajikistan are transported to the checkpoints by buses of the Kyrgyz side, the statement said.
"Tajik citizens perceive these measures as adequate taking into account the current situation and, despite the groundless statements of Valentina Chupik, citizens of Tajikistan continue to use the airports of Kyrgyzstan, which speaks for the fact that it is indeed safe for Tajik citizens in Kyrgyzstan," the statement said.
"The Tajik side was the first to open fire on civilians and territory of Kyrgyzstan, nevertheless the Kyrgyz side respecting all norms of international law provides security to citizens of Tajikistan in Kyrgyzstan. We believe that Valentina Chupik was deliberately misled by people interested in destabilizing the situation and turning the region into another "hotspot of tension," the statement said.
The Border Service considers her allegations as groundless and takes all measures to prevent the tension between the two countries from escalating, statement added.