Akylbek Japarov should be the first to be prosecuted for 2009 Kumtor agreement: Former president Askar Akayev

AKIPRESS.COM - Head of state commission on Kumtor Akylbek Japarov should be the first to be prosecuted for 2009 Kumtor agreement, former Kyrgyz president Askar Akayev said in an interview with AVTOR TV. All questions are limited by the 2009 agreement, he said.
"At that time, the price of gold was $1200 on the London Stock Exchange, three times higher than in 2004. There was no need to give any preferences back then. But on the contrary, they gave a lot of preferences. Moreover, they also approved it by law. So now the Kumtor Gold Company says that they will go to the international court and will win on the basis of the agreement of 2009. There was no need to approve the agreement by law," Akayev said.
"In 2009, the price of gold was $1200, 3 times higher than in 2004, the worst agreement ever was concluded under such good conditions. It was concluded by Akylbek Japarov on [ex-President Kurmanbek] Bakiev's order and interest. That's why he wants to shift Kyrgyz public opinion from 2009 to 2003 agreement. It will not bring any result though, because if international arbitration will be held tomorrow, it will be based on agreement created by Bakiev and Japarov in 2009," Akayev said.
On May 6, the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan passed the bill enabling introduction of external management at Kumtor Gold Company in 3 readings immediately.
On May 7, the Oktyabr district court of Bishkek found the placement of rock waste on the Davydov and Lysyi glaciers as a result of development of the Kumtor gold mine unlawful and held to collect 261,719,674 billion soms (over $3 billion) and the state duty of 1,308,653,370 soms. According to the court, the Kumtor Gold Company placed 1.2 billion tons of rock waste and this way destroyed 183 million cbm of glaciers.
On May 14, President Japarov signed into law the amendments.
On May 17, Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic told the government to impose external management on the Kumtor Gold Company for the environmental breach posing direct threat to lives of people.