Federal Frontier Service Chief Does Not Rule Out Illegal Border Crossing Attempts

Director of the Russian Federal Frontier Service (FPS) Konstantin Totsky has not ruled out that refugees and fighters from Afghanistan might attempt to cross the Afghan-Tajik border illegally. His statement comes in the wake of last night's US air strikes against terrorist bases in Afghanistan. Totsky said that if any attempts were made, then the service was ready to implement the decisions taken by Tajikistan's political leadership. He added that if a decision to let refugees across the border were taken, then border-guards would do so. "If refugees were to go Uzbekistan from Afghanistan, then Russia could hardly influence this process," Totsky said. At the same time, the director also stated that Russian border-guards would be taking measures to prevent Taliban fighters from entering Tajikistan. When answering journalists' questions, Totsky stressed that there were no Russian servicemen in Uzbekistan, nor were there any Russian military advisors either.