KYZYL-SUU, Kyrgyzstan -- Protests have broken out again in Kyrgyzstan's northern district of Jety-Oguz, with demonstrators demanding the nationalization of the country's biggest gold mine, Kumtor.
Some 500 local citizens gathered in the center of the village of Kyzyl-Suu on June 27, saying the agreement with the mine's operator, Canada-based Centerra Gold, must be canceled.
The Kyrgyz parliament has been calling for higher taxes to be imposed on Centerra.
Lawmaker Erkinbek Alymbekov, Deputy Prime Minister Tokon Mamytov, and the government's envoy in the region, Emilbek Kaptagaev, went to negotiate with the protesters.
On May 31, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev declared a three-day state of emergency in the district after thousands of protesters clashed with police.
Those protesters seized an electricity station and cut off power to the Kumtor mine, demanding Centerra build environmentally friendly infrastructure.
Some 500 local citizens gathered in the center of the village of Kyzyl-Suu on June 27, saying the agreement with the mine's operator, Canada-based Centerra Gold, must be canceled.
The Kyrgyz parliament has been calling for higher taxes to be imposed on Centerra.
Lawmaker Erkinbek Alymbekov, Deputy Prime Minister Tokon Mamytov, and the government's envoy in the region, Emilbek Kaptagaev, went to negotiate with the protesters.
On May 31, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev declared a three-day state of emergency in the district after thousands of protesters clashed with police.
Those protesters seized an electricity station and cut off power to the Kumtor mine, demanding Centerra build environmentally friendly infrastructure.
