DUSHANBE, August 28, 2009, Asia-Plus — On August 14, Uzbekistan unilaterally closed its common border with Tajikistan, Khoushnoud Rahmatulloyev, a spokesman for the main Border Troops Directorate within the State Committee for National Security, told Asia-plus today.
According to him, this measure was taken in connection with upcoming events to mark Uzbekistan’s Independence, which is marked on September 1. “The Uzbek Embassy has temporarily suspended issuing visas to Tajik nationals,” the spokesman said.
Only Russian nationals as well as Uzbek returning home currently may travel from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan and only Russian nationals and Tajik returning home currently may travel from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan. The restriction also does not apply to employees of diplomatic missions. Residents of border areas of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan who have the right to cross the border without visa for the period of five days are also permitted to cross the border but not more than 30 kilometers inland, the spokesman said.
In the meantime, according to the Uzbek Embassy in Dushanbe, Uzbekistan’s common border with Tajikistan has not been closed while the travel restriction was imposed on August 14 following detection of a number of cases of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) in Tajikistan’s Tursunzoda district bordering Uzbekistan.
“Temporary restriction has been imposed on issuing visas to tourists, persons visiting holy places in Uzbekistan and businessmen,” said the source at the Uzbek embassy, “However, we issue transit visas as well as visas to immediate relatives for participation in funerals in Uzbekistan as well as to persons going to Uzbekistan for business trips.” He added that the Tajik side had been notified of imposition of the travel restriction opportunely.
