You're reading: Hundreds in Kyrgyzstan rally against gold mine

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Several hundred people are rallying in the capital of Kyrgyzstan in protest at a major gold miner that has been the source of a series of toxic spills in past years, including a cyanide spill into a river.

Some
nationalist politicians, including one of the organizers of Wednesday’s
gathering, Sapar Zhaparov, are demanding the nationalization of the
mine.

The protest comes three months after the ex-Soviet nation’s
parliament backed proposals to review the operating license of a company
developing the Kumtor mine, which accounts for 12 percent of the
economy.

Critics have alleged that Toronto-based Centerra Gold,
which is developing Kumtor, have used accounting tricks to reduce their
expenditures. The company has denied the allegation.

Centerra says its project has generated $1.9 billion in benefits for Kyrgyzstan, including $620 million in taxes.