Uzbekistan has accused Kyrgyzstan of violating its airspace with a drone, a charge Bishkek denies.
According to Uzbekistan's border service, on December 16 a drone flew into Uzbekistan's Ferghana Valley from Kyrgyzstan's Batken region. The drone was flying at an altitude of 200-250 meters, flew 7.5 kilometers deep into Uzbekistan, and after an hour returned to Kyrgyzstan. The drone had no identifying markings, but was white with a light blue tail, the border service said.
And Uzbekistan added a warning: The border service "officially announces that in the event of another violation of the air space of Uzbekistan, the Uzbek side reserves the right to take all necessary measures to defend the air space of the Republic of Uzbekistan."
Kyrgyzstan's border service denied the claim to 24.kg, but didn't give any details.
The episode recalls the claim by Kazakhstan in 2012 that a drone had violated its airspace from Uzbekistan, an event which remains unexplained.
Kyrgyzstan isn't known to operate any drones. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, earlier this month announced that as of January 1, it was banning the import, sale, and use of drones in Uzbekistan, "in order to ensure the safety of aircraft flying... Thus, the government introduces its monopoly on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the territory of Uzbekistan."
Joshua Kucera, a senior correspondent, is Eurasianet's former Turkey/Caucasus editor and has written for the site since 2007.
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