evidence: Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan became embroiled in a fresh standoff over the disputed mountain Ungar-Too, located on the border. The latest incident once more highlighted the need for rapid and radical efforts to improve bilateral relations and eliminate tensions between the two neighboring countries. On August 24, two helicopters from Uzbekistan landed on the contested mountain, on top of which Kyrgyzstan has a large TV and radio transmitter. Uzbekistani police officers detained four citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic who were working there (Kloop,kg, August 24, 2016). These workers were held in custody at Uzbekistan’s Yangi Kurgan police station. The event sparked a new wave of escalation in bilateral relations. Already, in March of this year, the situation reached a particularly dangerous level, when both sides deployed heavily armed personnel to this contested border region (see EDM, March 31).