[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

What happened in Zarnisor? The authorities commented on the riot of Chinese workers in May 2020. VIDEO, 4 March 2021

A few months later, the official authorities of Tajikistan commented on the riot of Chinese workers of the Tajik-Chinese Mining and Industrial Company in the town of Zarnisor (formerly Oltin-Topkan), 90 kilometers from Khujand. The incident occurred on May 20, 2020.

Bakhtiyor Saidakhmadzoda, chairman of the city of Guliston (formerly Kairakkum), which includes the town of Zarnisor, said that workers' discontent was caused by delayed wages and the spread of coronavirus.

In May, authorities confirmed that Chinese workers had revolted, but did not provide details. At the same time, Chinese media reported that workers were beaten during the suppression of the riot.

The mayor of Guliston said at a press conference at the end of February that after the incident the problem was resolved and the workers were paid...

On May 20 last year, about 60 Chinese workers armed themselves with stones and sticks and attacked the company's headquarters. Representatives of the company and the Zarnisor village council say they tried to resolve the problem through negotiations, but the workers ignored this proposal. Some media outlets wrote that disgruntled migrants began to break glass in the company's headquarters building and smashed several cars as a sign of protest. Riot policemen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan arrived at the scene of the incident...

Then law enforcement agencies reported that “in order to calm the rioters, police officers shot in the air, there were no casualties or injuries.” It was reported that there were no Tajik citizens among the rioters.

However, Chinese media later reported that “police officers beat Chinese workers with batons, about 40 protest participants were seriously injured”...