Project description:

In September 2022, in the undescribed sections of the state border of Kyrgyzstan with Tajikistan took place clashes between the military of the two countries with the use of weapons. As a result, 63 citizens of Kyrgyzstan died and more than 200 were injured. After that, we collected data on all border conflicts in Kyrgyzstan since 2010.

Impact reached:

After the September events and the publication of the material, work on the demarcation of the borders intensified. The demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border is 100% complete. A description of 625 km of the border with Tajikistan is also being conducted.

Techniques/technologies used:

We conveyed the importance of resolving border conflicts through a person who directly lives near the borders and has seen these conflicts. We used this technique of conveying information because a person’s story is remembered and remains in the reader’s memory for a long time.
We requested basic data from the Border Guard Service of the Kyrgyz Republic. They gave us information about conflicts only from 2010, as they have no information about conflicts before that.

Context about the project:

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Central Asian states have inherited uncertain borders between their neighbors. Because of this, conflicts regularly arose on the borders. For 30 years of independence, the countries of Central Asia have been trying to solve the problem of borders.

What can other journalists learn from this project?

We collected data from different departments in one file. We do not say that the data is unique. But for other journalists who want to make a story about the borders, the data is ready. And for journalists from other countries of Central Asia who want to make a story about conflicts in the region, our material will be a good source.

Project links:

https://pk.kg/news/inner/my-zabyli-chto-takoe-mir-pogranichnye-konflikty-i-ih-zhertvy-v-cifrah-2/