Tajikistan has carried out a special operation to exterminate the armed supporters of rebel General Abdukhalim Nazarzod, says an Tajikistani Interior Ministry representative.
The Interior Ministry representative says General Nazarzod's last remaining eight supporters were eliminated earlier today, on September 16, in the Ramit Gorge.
The identities of the rebels will be disclosed after an investigation is conducted.
Earlier, the press reported that Abdukhalim Nazarzod was also killed during the Ramit Gorge operation, but this information remains unconfirmed.
“The last eight members of the gang were annihilated in the Ramit Gorge during a special operation two hours ago,” said a source speaking with RIA Novosti.
General Abdukhalim Nazarzod is a former deputy defense minister who was fired “for committing crimes.” He is suspected by Tajikistani authorities of attacking law enforcement officers on September 4 in the cities of Dushanbe and Vahdat. Eighteen law enforcement officers and 26 attackers lost their lives in the deadly incident.
Nazarzod and his supporters fled to the Ramit Gorge. An appeal allegedly written by Nazarzod was published online, stating that the attack on the officers was a provocation organized by the government of Tajikistan.
The Ramit Gorge operation was conducted over a period of 12 days. Senior commander Rustam Amakiyev died in during the operation. About 130 supporters of the rebel general were detained and over 20 were killed.