Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan agreement on classified information ratified

On February 27, the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) of Kyrgyzstan approved in the third reading the draft law on the ratification of the Agreement on Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information with Uzbekistan. The decision was reported by AKIpress.

The agreement was originally signed on July 18, 2023, in Tashkent between the governments of the two countries. It aims to strengthen bilateral relations, enhance cooperation, and ensure the protection of state secrets in areas such as foreign policy, military-economic collaboration, scientific-technical development, and other strategic partnerships.

"According to the agreement, the parties will determine confidentiality levels for exchanged information and designate authorized bodies responsible for managing its transfer, exchange, and protection," the report states.

The agreement also outlines measures to prevent and address violations in the protection of classified information. If unauthorized disclosure occurs, mutual assistance will be provided to investigate and mitigate the breach. In such cases, compensation for damages will be determined by the national legislation of both countries, as well as through negotiations and consultations.

This agreement follows a similar ratification between Uzbekistan and China in November 2023. The Uzbekistan-China agreement, signed on May 18, 2023, in Xi’an, consists of 19 articles and designates the State Security Service of Uzbekistan as the authorized body overseeing the protection of confidential information.