Kyrgyzstan stated Friday that three of its citizens were killed when Uzbek forces opened fire at the two Central Asian nations’ contentious border.

Border disputes have haunted the former Russian republics throughout their three decades of independence, with decision-makers using various Soviet-era maps to support their territorial claims.

“Without regaining consciousness, they died from their gunshot wounds,” the Kyrgyz national security committee stated in a statement, adding that it happened on Thursday.

It was the worst incident on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in recent years.

Representatives from both border agencies made contact right away, according to the statement, and agreed to start an inquiry.

It was also stated that they were scheduled to meet on Friday.

Kyrgyzstan refused to identify whether the victims were civilians or border guards.

Smuggling is a major issue in the region, and border villages frequently battle over grazing land and water resources.

The border service of Uzbekistan could not be reached for comment.

Bilateral ties between the neighbours were strained before the demise in 2016 of long-serving conservative Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

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