Border Troops of the State Security Service (Uzbekistan)

The Border Troops of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan and commonly referred to as the Border Troops, is a department of the military and State Security Service of Uzbekistan responsible for border security, part of the Security Service since 2005.

Structure

Navy

A small riverine naval force is operated by the Frontier Service on the Amu Darya river, with two Gurza-class gunboats in service as well as other small craft.

Civil Guard

In early 2021, the government ordered the creation of civilian border guard detachments to assist the border troops. It recruits citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 who live in village near the national border, and can work on a voluntary basis. The detachments aide in border surveillance and conducts night patrols.

Operation

Border clashes

It has had many disagreements with the Frontier Forces of Kyrgyzstan since 2011.

COVID-19

The Border Troops helped respond to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan. It received personal protective equipment by the EU-funded BOMCA Programme, which included 15 000 facemasks.