Uzbekistan commission clears border guards in fatal shooting of Kyrgyz citizens

An Uzbek government commission has concluded that the actions of Uzbek border guards, which led to the deaths of two Kyrgyz citizens on August 15, were carried out in accordance with national law.

According to the Border Troops of Uzbekistan’s Security Service, the incident occurred near the Ugam-Chatkal Nature Reserve in the Bostanlyk district of the Tashkent region. Border guards spotted two unidentified individuals in the restricted area and ordered them to stop. When they attempted to flee, the guards fired several warning shots into the air before using lethal force, Caliber.Az reports via Uzbek media. 

Both men were fatally wounded despite receiving first aid at the scene. A tent, food supplies, three horses, and traces of a third individual—who reportedly escaped into Kyrgyz territory—were later discovered.

Uzbekistan informed Kyrgyz and Kazakh border authorities the same day. On August 31, the victims were identified as Kyrgyz citizens, and their remains were handed over to their families.

A joint Uzbek-Kyrgyz inspection of the site was conducted on September 2–3. The commission’s findings confirmed that the Kyrgyz nationals had crossed the border illegally and that a third individual had fled back to Kyrgyzstan. Authorities from both sides agreed to cooperate in establishing his identity.

To prevent further incidents, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan pledged to increase joint patrols in remote mountain areas and conduct outreach campaigns for residents living in border regions.

By Sabina Mammadli