Kyrgyzstan absorbs two Uzbek border villages, 2,500 ethnic Kyrgyz residents start registration
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Kyrgyzstan has assumed control of two Uzbek border villages, Chon-Gara and Tash-Tobo, along with their 2,500 mostly ethnic Kyrgyz residents, as a border delimitation deal takes effect. Registration began on August 3, with a joint commission determining legal status, property, and citizenship. Kyrgyzstan will later transfer an equivalent plot to Uzbekistan.
The Handover Process
The transfer of Chon-Gara and Tash-Tobo from Uzbekistan’s Fergana region to Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region follows years of border delimitation negotiations. On July 24, a joint working commission met in Kadamjay district to coordinate the exchange, addressing legal status and property rights. On August 3, a bilateral group led by Batken first deputy governor Baktybek Toksonbaev and Uzbekistan’s deputy migration chief Behzod Saifullaev began public meetings in the villages. According to preliminary data, the villages are home to around 2,500 residents, predominantly ethnic Kyrgyz.
Resident Registration and Citizenship
With the handover underway, officials are registering the residents under Kyrgyz jurisdiction. The joint commission is determining each resident’s legal status, potential relocation options, and settlement of property and economic claims. At the next stage, residents will follow procedures established by Kyrgyz legislation to obtain citizenship. The Batken regional government said the process is being conducted in accordance with the bilateral delimitation agreement.
Reciprocal Land Exchange
Under the reciprocal agreement, Kyrgyzstan will provide Uzbekistan with an equivalent-area land plot from the state border zone. The exact location and timing of that transfer have not yet been disclosed. The overall process is part of a broader effort to finalize the Kyrgyz-Uzbek state border, which has seen sporadic disputes in the past. Both sides have emphasized the cooperative nature of the exchange.
What's Next
Registration and citizenship processing is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with the joint commission set to meet again to finalize legal frameworks. It remains unclear how quickly all residents will receive Kyrgyz citizenship or if any will choose to relocate back to Uzbekistan.
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Kyrgyzstan absorbs two Uzbek border villages, 2,500 ethnic Kyrgyz residents start registration
