Uzbekistan Takes Blame For Tajik Train Derailment

Uzbek authorities have reportedly accepted responsibility for a Tajik train's derailing on its territory.

Kurbonhon Saidov of Tajikistan's Transports Ministry told RFE/RL on October 11 that a joint Tajik-Uzbek commission had concluded the accident was caused by Uzbek authorities' failure to inform the Tajik side about repair works on the railways in Uzbekistan's southwestern Jizzakh Province.

The Tajik train transporting 200 young army conscripts from Dushanbe to Tajikistan's northern Sughd Province derailed on October 10 in Uzbekistan's Jizzakh, injuring dozens. Twenty injured soldiers remain in the hospital.

Uzbekistan has reportedly agreed to cover all expenses related to the accident and the treatment of those affected by it.