For the state, the border is both the beginning and the end. It is precisely border guards who meet everyone who wants to visit the country, and they also escort guests. Not to mention unfriendly invasions - and here the burden falls on the shoulders of the border troops first to reflect the attacks of the enemy or to identify smugglers and poachers. The smoothness of this service is a test of a state for a fortress, a sign of its political and economic strength. And the Day of the border guard in Kazakhstan is a tribute to those who guard the borders of the Motherland.
From Allied to Independent
The history of the border troops of independent Kazakhstan began on August 18, 1992, when Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Decree “On the Border Troops of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newly created units faced many difficulties: before they had to guard only the border with China, which was only 1, 718 kilometers long. And after leaving the USSR, this figure increased almost 8 times! There was a lack of trained personnel, the exact coordinates of the dividing lines between the states were not determined, outposts were created and built from scratch. Since then, the troops have gone through several reforms and reorganizations, and only in 2012 the Day of the Border Guard in Kazakhstan - August 18 - became an official holiday. This brought some clarity. Until that moment, the question of what date the day of the border guard in Kazakhstan remained open and many old-fashionedly celebrated it on May 28, as in the Russian Federation and some other CIS countries.
Politics and Topography
One of the problems of sovereign Kazakhstan in the beginning was the imperfection of the legal framework and the uncertainty of dividing lines. Controversial borders could become an occasion for conflicts with neighboring powers, and this should be dealt with as soon as possible.
The organization of a topographic working group from representatives of Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan allowed the parties in January 1996 to exchange updated maps of border sections and coordinate them.
In 1997, the issue with Kyrgyzstan was resolved. In 2000, problems with China were fully resolved. In 2005, they began to demarcate the border with Turkmenistan. Then an agreement was signed on the Kazakh-Russian border. In 2008, the borders of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were completely identified and marked with border signs.
With full right to celebrate, the Day of the border guard in Kazakhstan on August 18: the work has been carried out colossal, and now the territory of the state has no disputed areas.
On the land
The border troops of the Republic of Kazakhstan are the direct heirs of the units of the Red Banner East Border District of the KGB of the USSR. Today, four regional departments are responsible for protecting the land borders of Kazakhstan: Ontustik in the south, Shygys in the east, Batys in the west, and Solstik in the north. The southern divisions expected the most difficult days: constant tension in the Tajik-Afghan direction, terrorists, drug couriers and lovers of easy money of all stripes who use any loophole.
The stories of the outposts of Hasan Kuli, Koktum, Naryn, Baskunchi, the name Onopko and many others are sometimes written in blood. And even now, when technology and information systems greatly facilitate the task, the main resource of the service is people. It is precisely on their vigilance and willingness to engage in battle that the security of state borders depends. This holiday is dedicated to them: Day of the Border Troops of Kazakhstan - Day of the Border Guard - the date of honoring the courageous and faithful to duty.
And at sea
A common joke about “a submarine in the steppes of Kazakhstan” turns out to be not so unrealistic: the country's border in the Caspian Sea is about two thousand kilometers, given the continental shelf and territorial waters. Enough work: poachers, smugglers find this area very attractive. It also happens to save fishermen in trouble.
In 1995, in the Tupkaragan region in the village of Bautino, the first of many border boats of independent Kazakhstan was launched. In 2008, a specialized coast guard unit was established, working in close contact with the land and air forces of the border troops. Aviation equipment modified for flights over the sea. Now there are three divisions of ships in Bokhr, one of them is based in Atyrau.
Government Awards
Not only on the Day of the border guard in Kazakhstan, fighters and officers receive well-deserved recognition. On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Kazakhstani border guards received special attention from the president. Orders and medals were awarded to both service veterans and active military personnel.
In particular, the Aibyn Order of the II degree was received by the deputy commander of the air base, Colonel Murat Kaushenov for professionalism, excellent organization of work and decisiveness in an extreme situation. Captain-Lieutenant Yerbolat Kalishev, the commander of the ship "Saқshy", received the medal "Erligi Ushin". At that time, "Sashy" went on raids thirty-seven times, thanks to him and the crew, many violators were detained and several lives were saved.
Service does not like publicity
Border troops are part of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan and are directly subordinate to it. The total number of military men who have come under the banner of this agency is classified information. Therefore, it is so rarely seen in newspapers and on television those who depend on the safety of life in the country.
On the Day of the Border Guard in Kazakhstan, servicemen receive congratulations from the immediate and higher leadership, from relatives and friends. Prizes are awarded, solemn meetings are held in parts, in some places - small concerts, a congratulatory speech is heard. On the day of the border guard in Kazakhstan there are practically no noisy festivities and high-profile celebrations; in rare cases, local military parades are organized in border cities. The congratulatory texts mention the merits of the border service as a whole, pronounce the names of those who distinguished themselves, cite cases of selfless and outstanding actions, and note the importance of these people’s activities for the country's security.
