«My position on the issue of environmental violations detected at Kumtor mine has not changed: there is a fact, and it has not been canceled by anyone,» the Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan Dinara Kutmanova said today at a press conference.
In May 2021, Kumtor company was fined 261.7 billion soms by a court decision for storing waste on glaciers. Four people — Aibek Sarybaev, Nariste Kalchaev, Ablas Jeenbekov, Kemelbek Kutmanov — filed a civil lawsuit against Kumtor Gold Company CJSC. They asked to recognize storing waste on Davidov and Lysii glaciers during the development of Kumtor gold mine in Kyrgyzstan as illegal. The court upheld the claim.
On May 24, 2022, the judicial board of the Bishkek City Court overturned the decision of the Oktyabrsky District Court and made a new ruling. The activists’ claim against Kumtor Gold Company was denied.
«There is a fact of violations. If you know, the litigation is not over. It continues. My position has not changed. I repeat once again that any investor, business entity, regardless of the agreement, must comply with the laws. The agreement on Kumtor clearly states that they are committed to comply with environmental laws. All violations were recorded and reflected in the reports of three commissions. There can be no insinuations, as well as interpretations regarding my position. Period has not yet been put,» Dinara Kutmanova stressed.
