Four resorts in Issyk-Kul region have been transferred into the ownership of Uzbekistan, not for a long-term lease, as the authorities reported earlier. An agreement published on the website of the Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyzstan says.
This is the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on resort and recreation facilities located in Issyk-Kul region — Golden Sands of Central Asia (formerly Bosteri), Rokhat-NBU (formerly Rakhat), Dilorom (formerly Enesai) and the unfinished Buston resorts. The document was recently approved by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
According to the agreement, after registration of the property rights to the resorts, the Uzbek side undertakes to create hotel complexes at a level of at least three stars according to international standards, ensure unimpeded access of Kyrgyzstanis to beach areas, pay taxes, non-tax and other mandatory payments, and rent for the use of land plots assigned to the facilities in a timely manner.
As noted, liquidation, reorganization, insolvency and bankruptcy, change of owners of Uzbek organizations are not grounds for termination of obligations.
The document states: Uzbek organizations have the right to alienate the resorts to third parties after fulfilling the above obligations. The Kyrgyz side enjoys a preferential right over third parties to purchase objects at a market value.
Recall, by the decision of the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Temir Sariev in April 2016, four resorts in Issyk-Kul region (Golden Sands, Rohat-NBU, Dilorom and Buston) were transferred under the jurisdiction of the Kyrgyz Republic. Uzbekistan filed a lawsuit. The neighbors believed that the agreement between the states of the former USSR of 1992 on the use of facilities that, after the collapse of the Union, ended up on the territory of another republic was violated. In December 2017, it was reported that the issue had been resolved. To do this, the government proposed concluding an agreement with the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
According to the new document, the lands of the resorts were to remain the property of Kyrgyzstan, and the property would again be returned to the ownership of the Uzbek side. After registering the property rights, the neighbors took on the obligation to bring the resorts to the level of three or four stars with possible year-round operation. After signing the agreement, Uzbekistan was supposed to withdraw the claim from international arbitration.
Consideration of the dispute in the International Centre for Dispute Resolution was completed in May 2023. It was reported that the judge made a decision. There is also a dissenting opinion of arbitrator Zachary Douglas. The Center for Judicial Representation informed 24.kg news agency that the dispute was indeed terminated. But the parties then agreed not to disclose the details. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed documents on confidentiality.
