Russia calls on Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to take measures to normalize the situation on the border and prevent provocations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said.

Zakharova said the Russian side is closely monitoring the tense situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, which escalated again in the morning of September 14 as a result of an exchange of fire between border guards. 

She said that taking into account the existing agreements between the Presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Russia calls on both sides to take all necessary measures to return the situation to the political and diplomatic sphere and jointly prevent any kind of provocation.

At the same time, Moscow reiterated its readiness to help the parties find a long-term solution to border issues. 

Zakharova concluded by saying that Russia expresses its readiness to help the parties find a long-term mutually acceptable solution to border issues, using its rich experience in border demarcation, including with its Central Asian neighbors.

Earlier, it was reported that there was an exchange of fire between Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards on Wednesday. The Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border is more than 980 kilometers long, with dozens of disputed sections remaining after the collapse of the Soviet Union. 

To date, more than 660 kilometers between the two countries have been identified and agreed upon in the demarcation process. In some areas, disputes and conflicts arise from time to time between local residents of the border areas.

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