Transport Ministry: Kazakhstan illegally bans Bishkek – Tashkent bus route

The Kazakh side suspended the transit passage of buses serving the international bus route Bishkek — Tashkent without consent of the competent authorities of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The Ministry of Transport and Roads of the Kyrgyz Republic reported.

It notes that there was no reason to ban buses. In addition, Kazakhstan has violated the requirements of the Convention on the International Road Transportation of Passengers and Baggage dated October 9, 1997 and an agreement between the governments of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Ministry of Transport noted that the international bus route Bishkek — Tashkent was opened in the framework of the implementation of the agreements between the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Schedule and traffic plan were agreed by the Uzbek Agency for Road and River Transport and the Agency for Road, Water Transport, Weight and Dimensional Control of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The transit passage of buses serving the route was agreed upon by the Transport Committee of Kazakhstan in accordance with an agreement between the governments of the two countries on international road traffic for the period up to January 1, 2023.

«In November 2018, the Kazakh side initiated changes to the buses timetable for the movement along the Bishkek-Tashkent route. The Kazakh side proposed to make an interval of movement between buses of Bishkek-Tashkent and Bishkek-Zhibek-Zholy (Kazakhstan) routes for at least one hour in accordance with the requirements of the national legislation of Kazakhstan,» the Ministry of Transport told.

On November 19, 2018, the Kyrgyz side sent the newly developed timetable for Bishkek-Tashkent bus route. Everything is done within the time frame stipulated by the mentioned above protocol, signed on the basis of the results of the joint commission. Kazakhstan’s wish for the interval between the buses was taken into account. However, the new schedule has not yet been approved by the Kazakh side.

«However, this is contrary to the requirements of the Convention on the International Road Transport of Passengers and Baggage dated October 9, 1997. Currently, the authorized bodies of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan hold negotiations to resolve the issue,» the Ministry of Transport said.