About 200 protesters started a demonstration at the culture center of Saruu (Jeti-Oguz District, Issyk-Kul Region) over denunciation of the agreement with Centerra Gold, the Canadian company mining at the Kumtor gold deposit. They plan to move to the central square of Karakol, RIA Novosti reports.
The Kyrgyz State Commission found violations in the contract signed during the presidency of Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2009. Kyrgyzstan got only 33% of shares of the company mining at Kumtor. A memorandum on restructuring of the project was signed after three months of negotiations. Kumtor assets are worth $1.665 billion. Kyrgyzstan expects to make about $3 billion in 12 years after the restructuring.
The protesters demand at least 67% of the shares to be under state control.
Hundreds locals of the Jeti-Oguz District blocked the road to Kumtor in late May, demanding the government to scrap the deal. 55 people were injured in a crackdown when the police arrived. The company lost about $4 million.
