Gold mining at heart of recent Kyrgyz political turmoil, 22 February 2021

... “Locals used to freely move their animals out to pasture, but with the activities of gold mining companies this has become impossible,” said Kamchibek Kambarbekov, regional correspondent of the state-run regional media centre in the Jalal-Abad region. “Not only is mountain terrain being destroyed, but the course of rivers is being changed, dust is rising, and familiar trails and roads are disappearing. Close to the Ishtamberdy deposit, springs have stopped flowing, and shepherds are having trouble getting their cattle to drink. Due to explosion works, plants, animals, birds and even mountains are disappearing.”...