Uzbek border guard. Photo: podrobno.uz
Two citizens of Kyrgyzstan were shot dead on Uzbek territory near the tri-border area, reports Vecherniy Bishkek, citing the press service of the Kyrgyz Border Service.
The incident occurred on August 15. An Uzbek border patrol spotted the two individuals at the border junction. The border guards attempted to detain them, but the men did not comply, prompting the soldiers to use firearms. Both Kyrgyz citizens were wounded and died on the spot.
The case came to light after a report on the disappearance of two residents from the village of Aygyr-Zhal, Chatkal district, reached Kyrgyz law enforcement on August 25. On August 28, border officials from both countries met and discussed the details of the incident. On August 31, the relatives of the deceased traveled to Uzbekistan and confirmed their identities. The bodies were handed over to the Kyrgyz side on September 1 via the Baymak checkpoint and taken to the Kerben morgue for examination.
The heads of the border services of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan agreed on September 2 to conduct a joint investigation at the site of the incident. The Uzbek side also expressed readiness to return the deceased’s property — three horses and a tent.
An investigation into the deaths of the Kyrgyz citizens is ongoing.
