The armed clashes in Tajikistan, killed 17 people – BBC Russian

Image caption The government is accused of rioting opponents of President Rakhmon

In the Tajik capital of Dushanbe and its suburbs, there were clashes, which killed at least 17 people.

Eight policemen were killed on Friday during an armed attack on the police department of the city of Vahdat and the central office of the Ministry of Defence, according to the Interior Ministry.

The government blamed it on removed from the post of deputy Defense Minister Gen. Nazarzoda Abduhalimov Mirzo.

The US Embassy in Dushanbe closed and warned that the clashes could be harbingers of new acts of violence.

“While the significance of these incidents is unclear, for them may be followed by other acts of violence – said the mission in “Facebook”. – The US Embassy is closed, staff recommended to take refuge in their homes and not to send children to school today. All citizens of the United States advised caution “.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said that on Friday morning, an organized criminal group attacked the police department in the city of Vahdat and the building of the Defense Ministry in Dushanbe.

“As a result, criminals seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition”, – said in a statement.

Authorities say that “a group of terrorists led Nazarzoda Abduhalimov Mirzo disappeared in the direction Ramit Gorge Vahdat district”.

Last week, the Ministry of Justice imposed a ban on the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, which is the only legal Islamic party in Central Asia.

The general Nazarzoda was a member of the United Tajik Opposition, which fought the government forces 1990s. He took office in 1997 after the conclusion of peace agreements.

Observers point out that these events can be a sign of worsening struggle for power between the government of President Emomali Rakhmon and former commanders of armed opposition.

President Rakhmon has been in power for nearly 20 years, in 2013 he was re-elected to his post by a majority of 83.6% of the vote.

The international observers noted that the elections were held in a calm atmosphere but voters had them real opposition candidate.