In the evening of May 16, 2022, when protesters were marching from Barkhorugh (Northeastern Khorugh) to the main square in the city center of Khorugh, security forces blocked the road in Chinak and started firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Videos of the protesting crowd and of the shooting are available online.
The same day, security forces also fired live ammunition, leading to the death of Zamir Nazarshoev, as reported by Pamir Daily News and Radio Ozodi. Another Radio Ozodi article clarifieds that the killing of Nazarshoev did not happen in the context of the clashes in Chinak but in the city center. The article quotes the Ministry of the Interior which blames Nazarshoev for being armed and attacking police officers. According to unconfirmed rumours, however, he was shot by soldiers after throwing a stone at them and/or addressing them verbally. A source of political scientist Andrey Serenko reports that Nazarshoev was shot by a sniper without any provocation.
Subsequently, the internet connection in Khorugh was disabled and the main roads and bridges were blocked by military. Nevertheless, crowds gathered in various neighborhoods of Khorugh and tried to reach the city centre.
In response to ongoing repression and lacking responsiveness of the authorities, an assembly of GBAO residents on May 14, 2022, had agreed on demands to the authorities and announced public protests from May 16, 2022, onward if these demands were not fulfilled. In response, the authorities had tried to explore chances for negotiations but also reinforced the security forces, displayed armoured vehicles and threatened potential protesters with punishment.
On May 16, 2022, Pamir Daily News published a plea by diaspora civil society activists from GBAO to the international community. For information on the history of the conflict in GBAO, in particular the events since November 2021, please see the Roof-top Info background information document.