Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 7 / Trend, E. Kosolapova/
Rioters in the Kyrgyz city of Karakol captured regional governor Emilbek Kaptagaev, threatened to seize the building of the regional administration and want to meet the Kyrgyz Prime Minister, RIA Novosti reported referencing a witness.
The rioters demanded the cancellation of the contract with the operator of Kumtor mine -Ganterra Gold. According to the agreement, Kyrgyzstan has about 33 percent in the company. In September, the Kyrgyz government and Centerra signed a memorandum of understanding on the project restructuring. The parties agreed to create a new joint venture on a parity basis. Protesters demand the withdraw of the memorandum and the transfer of at least 67 percent in the gold deposit to Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz 24.kg news agency reported that it had contacted by phone with the captured governor. He said he is not in danger, and continues negotiating with the rioters.
In late May, several hundred of the Issyk-Kul region's residents blocked the road running to the Kumtor mine. Moreover, they occupied the Tamga electric station and cut off the power supply to the mine and the gold extracting factory. Protesters clashed with police in some villages near the Issyk-Kul Lake. The police used non-lethal weapons; some 55 people were injured as a result. A state of emergency and curfew were imposed in the region.