Kyrgyz Geological Service’s Head of Subsoil Development Department Detained
Kyrgyzstan Cracks Down on Corruption in Mining Sector
On August 23, 2024, the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) announced the detention of the head of the Subsoil Development Department of the Kyrgyz Geological Service as part of a crackdown on corruption in the country’s mining sector.
The SCNS revealed that a corruption scheme within the Ministry of Natural Resources had been uncovered, specifically related to the issuance of licenses for the use of subsoil. It was discovered that certain officials within the ministry, in collaboration with the management of P.A.T. company, had illegally altered a license for the purpose of geological exploration for various minerals including gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and bismuth, in violation of the law.
This corruption scheme not only harmed legitimate enterprises involved in mining activities but also had a detrimental impact on the investment climate within the industry.
As a result, the head of the Subsoil Development Department and the former head of P.A.T. LLC have been detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. Additionally, the license for the use of subsoil with gold reserves exceeding 10 tons has been revoked and returned to the state.
This crackdown on corruption in the mining sector demonstrates Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability within the industry, ultimately aiming to create a fair and competitive environment for all stakeholders involved.
