Uzbek-Kyrgyz border checkpoint restarts operation after a five-year pause

On December 25, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan again resumed the work of the checkpoint “Ak-Tash" (KR) – “Birlishken” (UZ), Kun.uz correspondent reports.
 
It is used for free passage of the inhabitants of the Kyrgyz exclave Barak to the territory of Kyrgyzstan.
 
On December 18, within the framework of the second meeting of the Council of heads of Uzbek-Kyrgyz border provinces, this agreement was reached between the Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammadali Abilgaziyev and the Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. 

The SCP (simplified checkpoint) “Ak-Tash” is located on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek intersection of the state border and connects the exclave “Barak” with “Kara-Su” district of Osh region. The checkpoint "Ak-Tash" temporarily stopped the passage of residents of the Kyrgyz exclave “Barak” in the spring of 2013.
 
In 2013 – 2015, the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan, in agreement with the Uzbek side, continued to deliver food, medical supplies, fuel and lubricants, seeds, fertilizers and other goods to the exclave.

Earlier, residents of the exclave “Barak” were forced to cross the state border through the highway “Kyzyl-Kiya” (nearly 150 km far) to travel to the main territory of Kyrgyzstan. In order to reach the city of Osh, it was necessary to drive about 300 km in total. Now, it will be necessary to overcome a little more than 1 km through the SCP “Ak-Tash” to travel to the main territory of the country.

Check points will function daily from 9:00 to 19:00. In case of emergency situations, citizens may pass day and night.