Uzbekistan Shuts Border With Kyrgyzstan Ahead of Independence Day

Uzbekistan temporarily shut down the border with Kyrgyzstan on Monday ahead of the Independence Day in almost two weeks, its border service said.

BISHKEK (Sputnik) — Uzbekistan is preparing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union on September 1.

"Starting from August 22, Uzbekistan has closed crossings at the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border," a spokeswoman for the Uzbek border service told RIA Novosti.

The new restriction will affect citizens of both countries who will only be allowed to return home, while third-country nationals will be free to pass through the border crossings as usual, the spokeswoman said.