Under [Water] Pressure, “Fraternal” Kazakhstan Reopens Kyrgyzstan Border
Astana finally reopened the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border today, closed since the April 7 uprising. Interestingly, Kazakh authorities finally promised to let goods and people cross only hours after Bishkek diverted the Talas River, which serves as a vital source of irrigation water for Kazakhstan’s southern agricultural heartland. Today, the Kyrgyz turned the taps back on.
Quid pro quo? An offer Astana couldn’t refuse?
A statement from Astana on May 19 offers little explanation:
Given the difficult socio-economic situation in Kyrgyzstan, and taking into account the numerous appeals from the citizens of a friendly country, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered the government on May 20 of this year to remove the temporary restrictions.
Yet border security and customs checkpoints will remain strengthened because,
Unfortunately, the situation in Kyrgyzstan is far from completely normal and stable. There are cases of smuggling firearms, drugs and other prohibited items into the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan's interim government leaders have said the “economic blockade” would have catastrophic, destabilizing consequences. Did they mean drought in southern Kazakhstan? In addition to bringing Kyrgyz trade to a halt, Kazakhs have also suffered. In Kazakhstan, the prices for some food products have reportedly doubled. But few expect Astana was motivated by the price of potatoes.
Can we now expect a flood of Kazakh gamblers rushing across their southern border?
David Trilling is Eurasianet’s managing editor.
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