18:28, 13 мая 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Ruslan KHARIZOV
Former interim manager of Kumtor Gold Company Tengiz Bolturuk commented on completion of negotiations with Centerra over Kumtor. He posted the video on his Facebook page.
Tengiz Bolturuk stressed that the negotiations began thanks to the political will of the President Sadyr Japarov.
«He said that we would take Kumtor. When I worked on the Board of Directors with Centerra, I made no secret of our intentions. I said: «We’re going to get divorced. All you have done is harm. It is impossible to endure further. It is nesessary to get ready for a divorce. They knew about it, they were preparing, we were also preparing. However, there were attempts on their part to use previous schemes. They were trying to damage the image through bribes and blackmailing through the media. The worst of the worst,» he said.
But we kept going and showed political will. Therefore, both sides systematically prepared for this agreement.
Tengiz Bolturuk
One of the important aspects, according to Tengiz Bolturuk, was the fact of involvement of Western lawyers who competently built the defense strategy of Kyrgyzstan.
«Admission of participation in corruption schemes by ex-president Askar Akayev and his relatives also had an impact on the outcome of the case. After that, Centerra immediately spoke differently. At the moment, when we honestly showed our capabilities in criminal cases and that it would not be possible to negotiate with us in the old ways, everything fell into place,» Tengiz Bolturuk added.
He also believes that a sufficient number of decent politicians has appeared on the political arena of Kyrgyzstan who will not take bribes. «The President and the authorities adhere to a tough and principled position: Kumtor is ours, and it must work for our economy,» the head of Heritage of Great Nomads Holding concluded.
On April 4, the head of the state Sadyr Japarov announced signing of an agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers and the Canadian company Centerra Gold, resolving disagreements on the management of Kumtor Gold Company CJSC. According to the document, the Cabinet received the right of full management and ownership of the mine.