Press Service of the Main Directorate of Border Troops of the Tajik National Security State Committee reports that Uzbekistan unilaterally closed its state borders for residents of Tajikistan this Friday. Uzbek border guards officially notified their Tajik opposite numbers that the borders were to stay closed pending further notice and ascribed it to the forthcoming election of president scheduled for December 23.

Accepting no citizens of Tajikistan on its own territory, Uzbekistan refrained from restricting Uzbeks' trips to Tajikistan.

Entry into Tajikistan in the period of the presidential election requires a special dispensation from the Uzbek authorities - say, in the event of the death of a relation living in Uzbekistan.

It is not the only restrictive measure undertaken by the Uzbek authorities for the period of the election. Private hotels in Uzbek cities were ordered to turn back all foreign customers. Russian TV networks including Mir (the TV channel Uzbekistan itself is one of the founders of) were denied accreditation in Uzbekistan.