There are signs of treason against state interests: Kyrgyzstan’s State Commission on Kumtor

Bishkek, May 17, 2021. / Kabar /. The State Commission for Investigation of Kumtor Gold Mining Company appealed to law enforcement bodies and the Prosecutor General's Office in order to bring to responsibility all presidents and prime-ministers from 1992 until present for support of interests of a foreign company, chairman of the Commission Akylbek Zhaparov said during an extraordinary session of the Jogorku Kenesh.

He added this also applies to directors of the State Inspectorate for Environmental and Technical Safety, the Tax Service, members of the Board of Directors of Centerra Gold from the Kyrgyz side, chairmen of Kyrgyz Altyn, and chairmen of the revision commissions.

"They will have to answer for not defending the state interests and for making decisions in favor of a foreign company. We see signs of treason against state interests in favor of one commercial organization. We are not a court, and we cannot declare someone guilty or not guilty. But time is evidence and there are signs,” chairman Zhaparov said.

In February 2021, the Jogorku Kenesh established a State Commission to inspect Kumtor's operations to review compliance with norms and requirements for the rational use of natural resources, environmental protection, safety of production processes and social protection of the population, as well as implementation of decisions of previous parliamentary.

On May 7, the Oktyabr District Court of Bishkek satisfied the claim of four individuals to Kumtor Gold Company CJSC and obliged the company to pay to the state KGS 261 billion 719 million in damages.

Claimants asked to recognize waste storage on Davidov and Lysyi glaciers during development of Kumtor gold deposit as illegal and to exact from the company KGS 261.7 billion of damage to the state. The court fully satisfied the claim.

In addition to the amount of damages, the court ordered to recover from the company a state duty of KGS 1.3 billion. In total, the company is obliged to pay KGS 263 billion, according to the current exchange rate this is USD 3.1 billion.

Kumtor Gold Company CJSC is a subsidiary of the Canadian gold mining company Centerra Gold Inc. It develops the largest gold deposit in Kyrgyzstan Kumtor. Kyrgyzstan, represented by Kyrgyz Altyn OJSC, owns 26.2% of shares in Centerra Gold Inc. and holds the largest stake in Centerra.