About Us
Our Research Products
Kyrgyzstan
Mine Action
Contamination and Impact
Mines
Kyrgyzstan is contaminated by landmines, mainly in the southern Batken province bordering Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as a result of mine use by Uzbekistan’s military between 1999 and 2000. It has been reported that rainfall and landslides caused some mines to shift.[1] During the unrest in April 2010, two “mines” were reported to have been found on a road in the capital, Bishkek, raising fears of possible further contamination.[2] The devices were defused by a Krygyz special forces team.[3]
The extent of residual mine contamination in the country is uncertain. In 2003, Kyrgyz authorities estimated that Uzbek forces had mined approximately 42km of the 1,300km border and around the Uzbek enclaves of Sokh and Shakhimardan located within Kyrgyzstan. Press reports have suggested that Uzbek troops partially cleared territory around the Sokh enclave in 2004–2005[4] and that they had completely cleared mines around Shakhimardan enclave in 2004.[5]
Kyrgyzstan has admitted using antipersonnel mines in 1999 and 2000 to prevent infiltration across its borders,[6] but has claimed that all the mines were removed and destroyed.[7]
Cluster munition remnants and other explosive remnants of war
Kyrgyzstan is also contaminated with explosive remnants of war (ERW), primarily UXO, in the Ferghana Valley region where Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan meet.[8]
Mine Action Program
Key institutions and operators
|
Body |
Situation on 1 January 2010 |
|
National Mine Action Authority |
None |
|
Mine action center |
None |
|
International demining operators |
None |
|
National demining operators |
Armed forces State Border Guard Service |
|
National risk education operators |
Ministry of Emergency Situations |
There is no formal mine action program in Kyrgyzstan. In June 2001, Kyrgyzstan adopted a law governing mine action, which gave general responsibility for demining to the Ministry of Defense, and for mine/ERW risk education to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.[9]
Kyrgyzstan also planned that marking and fencing of mined areas would be executed by a local NGO equipped, trained, and supervised by a Danish Demining Group (DDG) technical advisor. But due to the security situation on the borders, it was decided to equip and train the State Border Guard Service to survey and mark the remaining minefields, by means of a project funded by the European Commission (EC).[10] In 2006, DDG started preparing a 12-strong State Border Guard Service unit to conduct a general survey of suspect areas in Batken province.[11]
Land Release
Mine clearance in 2009
Clearance is the responsibility of the army and the State Border Guard Service, although, as noted above, in the past DDG was involved in demining. No formal clearance operations appear to have occurred since late 2006. Clearance reportedly ended because of the lack of agreement on delimitation and demarcation of Kyrgyzstan’s borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.[12]
[1] See, for example, Yuri Yegorov, “Uzbekistan agrees to remove minefields along its border with Kyrgyzstan,” Eurasia Daily Monitor, Vol. 1, Issue 41, 29 June 2004.
[2] “On Chuy avenue in Bishkek two mines were defuzed,” 9 April 2010, Kabar, www.kabar.kg.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Sultan Zhimagulov (Bishkek) and Olga Borisova (Tashkent), “Kyrgyzstan Tries to Defend Itself from Uzbek Mines,” Navigator (Kazakhstan), 14 March 2003, www.navi.kz.
[5] “Borders are becoming clear,” Blog, www.uzbekistan.wordpress.com.
[6] Statement of Kyrgyzstan, Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 8 May 2006; and letter 011-14/809 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 30 April 2010.
[7] Ibid.
[8] See, for example, “Two 15-year-olds died in Kyrgyzstan as a result of explosion of unknown item,” 24.kg (online news agency), 12 May 2008, www.24.kg.
[9] Law entitled “On organizational measures directed towards prevention of harm to lives, health and property of citizens of Kyrgyz Republic as a result of accidents that happen to population and property on the mined fortifications in the border areas between Kyrgyz Republic and territory of Republic of Uzbekistan” of 7 June 2001. For more information see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 889.
[10] “Borders are becoming clear,” Blog, www.uzbekistan.wordpress.com.
[11] EC, “Contribution to the Landmine Monitor 2005,” provided by email from Nicola Marcel, RELEX Unit 3a Security Policy, EC, 19 July 2005.
[12] Interview with Col. Daniyar Izbasarov, Ministry of Defense, Bishkek, 30 March 2008.
Send us your feedback on this profile
Send the Monitor your feedback by filling out this form. Responses will be channeled to editors, but will not be available online. Click if you would like to send an attachment. If you are using webmail, send attachments to .