Uzbekistan’s Border Troops have confirmed that Uzbek servicemen acted lawfully during a fatal shooting near the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border on August 15, which resulted in the deaths of two Kyrgyz nationals. The official statement was released by the press service of the Border Troops under the State Security Service on September 4.
According to the report, the incident occurred near the Ugam-Chatkal nature reserve in Tashkent region’s Bostanlyk district. Border patrol officers reportedly spotted two unidentified individuals in a restricted area near the state boundary. When ordered to stop, the individuals attempted to flee. Border guards fired several warning shots into the air, but the individuals continued moving toward the border. Weapons were then used “as a last resort,” according to the statement.
Both individuals were wounded and died at the scene, despite first aid being administered by border personnel. A search of the area revealed a tent, three horses, food supplies, and tracks indicating the presence of a third individual who reportedly fled back into Kyrgyz territory.
The border services of both Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan were immediately notified. On August 31, authorities confirmed the deceased were Kyrgyz citizens, and their bodies were returned to their families. A joint site inspection by Uzbek and Kyrgyz border officials was conducted on September 2-3.
Following the inspection, a bilateral commission concluded that the Uzbek border patrol had acted in accordance with national law and that the individuals had illegally crossed the state border. Both sides agreed to continue investigating the identity of the third individual and to pursue further action as appropriate.
