The Andijan Reservoir, known as the Kempir-Abad Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan (; ), is a
reservoir
A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation.
Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
formed by the
Andijan Dam
The Andijan Dam is a buttress dam on the river Kara Darya near Andijan in Andijan Region, Uzbekistan. Its reservoir, known as the Andijan Reservoir in Uzbekistan and Kempir-Abad Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan, covers and stretches into the neighboring ...
on the
Kara Darya
The Kara Darya (; ; ) is a major river in southern Kyrgyzstan and eastern Uzbekistan. It is one of the two source rivers of the Syr Darya (the second largest river of Central Asia), the other source being the Naryn. The Kara Darya is formed by t ...
River in the
Ferghana Valley
The Fergana Valley (also commonly spelled the Ferghana Valley) in Central Asia crosses eastern Uzbekistan, southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan.
Encompassing three former Soviet republics, the valley is ethnically diverse and relation ...
. Following the
dissolution of the USSR
Dissolution may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Dissolution'', a 2002 novel by Richard Lee Byers in the War of the Spider Queen series
* Dissolution (Sansom novel), ''Dissolution'' (Sansom novel), by C. J. Sansom, 2003
* Dissolution (Binge no ...
, the reservoir became a source of dispute between
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains, Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Kyrgyzstan, largest city. Kyrgyz ...
and
Uzbekistan
, image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg
, image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg
, symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem
, national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...
, with each country claiming ownership. In 2022, the two countries signed a border demarcation deal, according to which Kyrgyzstan reportedly ceded control of the reservoir in exchange for agricultural land elsewhere in Uzbekistan. The agreement sparked protests in Kyrgyzstan, which were clamped down by the Kyrgyz government.
The Andijan reservoir has a maximum surface area of , and an estimated volume of .
Name
The reservoir is known as Andijan Reservoir in Uzbekistan and as Kempir-Abad Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan. The predominant Kyrgyz spelling is an incorrect revision of the word "kampirravot" (; ), which is the name of the gorge in which the reservoir is formed. On the Kara Darya, there also exists a village named Kampirravot, which is part of
Xonobod
Xonobod (in 1972—91 ''Sovetabad'', ) is a district-level city in Andijan Region, Uzbekistan. It has an area of Xonobod city ...
City in
Andijan Region
Andijan Region is a region of Uzbekistan, located in the eastern part of the Fergana Valley in far eastern Uzbekistan. It borders with Kyrgyzstan ( Jalal-Abad and Osh Regions), Fergana Region and Namangan Region. It covers an area of 4,300&nbs ...
of Uzbekistan.
Count K. K. Pahlen, who conducted an inspection tour of Central Asia on behalf of the Russian Tsar in 1908–1909, mentions in his memoirs a major dam on the
Kara Darya River
The Kara Darya (; ; ) is a major river in southern Kyrgyzstan and eastern Uzbekistan. It is one of the two source rivers of the Syr Darya (the second largest river of Central Asia), the other source being the Naryn (river), Naryn. The Kara Darya ...
known as "Kampyr-Aravat." A dam called the Kampirravot Dam was built on the Kara Darya by the Uzbek SSR in 1937—1940.
2022 border deal
In October 2022, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan reached a border demarcation deal. It was reported that as part of the deal Kyrgyzstan had relinquished its claim on the Andijan Reservoir in exchange for 19,000 hectares of agricultural land elsewhere in Uzbekistan.
In November 2022, Kyrgyz President
Sadyr Japarov
Sadyr Nurgojo uulu Japarov (born 6 December 1968) is a Kyrgyzstani politician, diplomat, and oligarch who has been serving as the sixth president of Kyrgyzstan since 28 January 2021. He previously served as the 22nd prime minister in the 2020 ...
and Uzbek President
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev (born 24 July 1957) is an Uzbek politician who has served as President of Uzbekistan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan since 14 December 2016. Previously, Mirziyoyev led the gover ...
signed the deal into law shortly after lawmakers in both countries approved it.
Kempir-Abad protests
While the details of the border deal were not fully disclosed, the agreement sparked protests across Kyrgyzstan.
Prominent activists and politicians who supported and organized the protests were accused of plotting a coup. A total of 27 activists, journalists, and politicians who took part in or supported the protests were detained and prosecuted in high-profile cases. Women activists played a major role in the protests.
Human rights organizations stated the clampdown was politically motivated and called for releasing the protesters.
They pointed out that prosecutors failed to produce evidence that the protesters incited mass riots or were planning to seize power.
Kyrgyzstan's ombudswoman at the time, Adyr Abdrakhmatova, expressed concern that the protesters had been mistreated in custody.
See also
*
Kasan-Sai Reservoir
References
{{reflist, 2
Reservoirs built in the Soviet Union
Reservoirs in Kyrgyzstan
Reservoirs in Uzbekistan
Syr Darya basin