Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan border village transfer

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have begun the official transfer of the villages of Chon-Gara and Tash-Dobo (also spelled Chong-Gara, Tash-Tobo, Tash-Tobe) from Uzbekistan's Fergana region to Kyrgyzstan, as part of a bilateral border demarcation and land exchange agreement. A joint working commission met on July 24, 2026, in Kadamjay district to address resident registration, resettlement, property rights, and economic matters. A joint working group, led by Baktybek Toksonbaev of Kyrgyzstan and Bekhzod Saifullaev of Uzbekistan, began on-the-ground operations on August 3, 2026, registering residents and conducting outreach. The villages are predominantly ethnic Kyrgyz, with a combined population of about 2,500. After registration, residents will undergo procedures to obtain Kyrgyz citizenship. In exchange, Kyrgyzstan will transfer an equivalent land plot near the state border to Uzbekistan. The agreement is expected to improve regional connectivity, including a direct road between Sai and Tayan, reducing the distance from Aidarken to Batken from about 225 km to 55 km.