Protesters demanding the nationalization of Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mine, Kumtor, have barricaded a highway in Issyk-Kul Province in the country's north. The protesters briefly dismantled the roadblock on October 8, but later used burning tires to block transport a second time. Local officials have been holding talks with protest leaders. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service
Protesters Barricade Roads In Kyrgyz Gold Mine Dispute
![Protesters used trees, cars, and a truck to block the highway in Issyk-Kul Province. Some 400 people were at the site of the roadblock at the height of the protest.](https://gdb.rferl.org/fa54681a-e215-4afa-94ee-b94428487baf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Protesters used trees, cars, and a truck to block the highway in Issyk-Kul Province. Some 400 people were at the site of the roadblock at the height of the protest.
![The protesters blocked a bridge leading into the villages of Sara and Darkhan. A day earlier, police in the regional capital, Karakol, dispersed protesters who had taken a regional official hostage for several hours and arrested 23 people. The demonstrators are now demanding the release of their comrades.](https://gdb.rferl.org/1f058450-af4e-4d02-bb89-c4e3843bcde2_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The protesters blocked a bridge leading into the villages of Sara and Darkhan. A day earlier, police in the regional capital, Karakol, dispersed protesters who had taken a regional official hostage for several hours and arrested 23 people. The demonstrators are now demanding the release of their comrades.
![The protesters are demanding the nationalization of Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mine, Kumtor. The first such protest erupted in May, when thousands of demonstrators clashed with police near the mine.](https://gdb.rferl.org/0141647b-3be3-4c79-94a6-3a1b617adf15_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The protesters are demanding the nationalization of Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mine, Kumtor. The first such protest erupted in May, when thousands of demonstrators clashed with police near the mine.
![The incident in May prompted the government to work out a memorandum last month that outlines a new deal with Canada's Centerra Gold on operating the mine.](https://gdb.rferl.org/d91b0266-bf50-4a88-8e54-5cc342a97259_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The incident in May prompted the government to work out a memorandum last month that outlines a new deal with Canada's Centerra Gold on operating the mine.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/1c57acaf-e397-4a9c-a504-1e08b3808a3b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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