A large queue consisting of light vehicles has formed at the Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan border. This was reported by Upl.uz.
Drivers stuck in this situation are stating that their wait can last more than a day, and sometimes even several days. People trying to cross the border are facing serious difficulties.
According to them, bribery is widespread on the Kazakhstan side, with offers to expedite the border crossing process for a certain amount of money. This has been reported by Uzbek media.
Uzbek citizen Igor Ayipkin stated that some individuals on the Kazakhstan side promise to let cars pass more quickly for 5, 10, or even 15 thousand rubles. Many drivers, tired of waiting for long hours, are accepting such offers, even though it causes them dissatisfaction.
Igor emphasized in an interview with journalists that people have no other choice but to pay. Another factor complicating the situation is that not only local residents are in line, but also dozens of vehicles registered in Tajikistan.
For many drivers, Uzbekistan is a transit area, as they travel through it to their homes or other countries. However, movement across the border has almost come to a standstill.
Recently, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha, and many are rushing to return to their families. However, the traffic jams at the border are obstructing their plans.
Uzbek woman Galina Nikitina said that after waiting for long hours, she decided to leave her car and cross the border point on foot. Her husband tried to cross from another border point – "Yallama" (on the Kazakhstan side "B.
Qonisboyev"), but the situation there has not improved either. According to the woman, about 150 cars are in line at this point, and only nine vehicles have crossed the border in eight hours.
Galina also noted that there are individuals at this point offering to expedite crossing for money. Many hoped that the situation would be easier at "Yallama" after leaving "Kaplanbek," but everything is as it was before, she said.
Representatives of the Uzbek customs committee stated that their services are operating in normal mode and that no artificial barriers are being imposed. Committee spokesperson Khusan Tangriyev announced that negotiations are currently underway between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, discussing increasing the crossing capacity at border points and possibly opening additional routes.
However, no concrete decisions have been made yet, and drivers are forced to accept the current situation. The Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan border is one of the longest borders in Central Asia, with a length of approximately 2350 kilometers.
Therefore, controlling the border points requires significant resources, and during holiday periods, the load on these points significantly increases. Update: The Uzbek customs committee reported that as a result of the efforts of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the traffic jams at the "Navoi" border point have been eliminated.
