Shootings in Tashkent: Were They Simple Bandits or Members of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

In August 29, 2009, many Web sites reported about shootings that took place in Tashkent city. These shootings  took place at Mannon Uygur Street near the Kukcha mosque. 


According to the news reports, 2 gunmen and middle-aged lady who lived in the same building were killed during the operation. Ferghana.ru also reported that after special forces came to the scene, they drove most residents out from their apartments. Then, indiscriminately started shooting at the building. 


Firstly, the Prosecutor-General's Office accused that killed gunmen were bandits, and after a while, changed their terminology blaming them as members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The Prosecutor's Office also blamed these individuals with recent killings of two Tashkent imams (religious leaders) and high-ranking law enforcement chief Hasan Asadov.


So, it seems that the law enforcement simply solved the problem of investigations into the killings of two religious leaders and one of the law enforcement officials by accusing the killed gunmen. 


Uznews.net also reported that witnesses of the events said that the gunmen were not terrorists but a criminal gang. Here's an excerpt from the article "Witnesses reject terrorism claims in recent shooting" published on September 7, 2009:

"Residents of a neighbourhood where an unknown group and Uzbek security officers exchanged fire on 29 August say that a woman was killed in the incident. They deny claims that those killed were terrorists.

They say that a criminal gang was uncovered in their neighbourhood after a tip-off to police which did not expect to meet armed resistance.

The gang was operating in other parts of the city and one of its members was recognised by their neighbour on Mannon Uygur St who reported to police."

It is not a secret, that the government officials are trying to frame each incident as a terrorist attack and it became a regular accusation that was employed since 1996 bombings in Tashkent city and since the Andijan events in 2005.