DUSHANBE. Aug 3 (Interfax) - Members of armed groups continue surrendering weapons in the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous province in eastern Tajikistan, Tajik Interior Ministry spokesman Makhmadullo Asadulloyev told journalists.
They started to turn over their weapons early on July 29, after four days of negotiations between the Tajik authorities and armed group leaders.
"More than 300 firearms and items of ammunition had been surrendered by 8:00 a.m. (7:00 a.m. Moscow time), including over 50 heavy weapons, among them grenade launchers, mine launchers and one air defense missile system," Asadulloyev said.
Weapons turned over by armed group members include RPG and Mukha grenade launchers, Kalashnikov submachine guns and assault rifles, Makarov, TT and some foreign made pistols, sniper rifles, artillery shells, grenades, etc.
"Religious figures, civil society activists, the intelligentsia and ordinary citizens are vigorously encouraging people in Khorog to surrender their weapons," he said.
A security operation targeting members of armed groups was carried out in Khorog, the main city of Gorno-Badakhshan, on July 24. One civilian and 17 security service officers were killed and 40 officers more were injured during the operation. Thirty armed group members were eliminated and another 41 were detained. The Tajik authorities then started negotiations with armed group leaders.
The Gorno-Badakhshan administration and the Tajik Prosecutor General's Office issued statements on July 28, accusing armed groups suspected of killing General Abdullo Nazarov on July 21 of refusing to voluntarily surrender their weapons and turn over four people suspected in the general's murder. The authorities promised an amnesty to the rest of the militants if they agreed to fulfill their demands.
The Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous province is a sparsely populated area located in eastern Tajikistan and mostly covered by the Pamir Mountain Range. The city of Khorog is located near the border with Afghanistan, 520 kilometers southeast of the Tajik capital Dushanbe.