[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Centre]

"We're living as hostages." Residents of an Uzbek village sue a metallurgical plant over explosions and unsafe conditions, 25 May 2025

Residents of the village of Kalmakyr in the Tashkent Region have been in legal proceedings against the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant for over three years. They live near the Kalmakyr ore quarry, where blasting operations are carried out weekly...

A video sent to our editorial office shows blasting operations taking place very close to homes still inhabited. One of our interviewees reported that the houses shook during the explosions. Many buildings are gradually falling into disrepair—windows are blown out, walls are cracked, and ceilings are collapsing. The smell of burning permeates the area after the explosions. Village resident Raisa Ernis reported that some disgruntled residents rented apartments in the city and moved away, leaving only pensioners in the village...

Current Time sent a request to the plant's administration and also tried calling the phone numbers listed on the website. However, no response was received by the time of publication...