BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's prosecutor-general says at least nine more former and current officials in Kyrgyzstan face the possibility of corruption charges over a 2003 deal with Canada’s Centerra Gold company.
Aida Salyanova told lawmakers on October 30 that 12 top officials signed a deal in 2003 that gave the Kyrgyz government a 17-percent stake in the country's largest gold mine, Kumtor, with Centerra recieving an 83 percent share.
Three former ministers have already been charged with corruption in connection to Kumtor in recent days.
The Kumtor deal was renegotiated in 2009, giving the Kyrgyz government a 33-percent share.
Last week, the Kyrgyz parliament rejected a new government-proposed deal in which Centerra and the Kyrgyz government would each own a 50-percent share.
Lawmakers requested the government to agree on a new deal with Centerra by December 23 to raise Kyrgyz ownership to 67 percent.
Aida Salyanova told lawmakers on October 30 that 12 top officials signed a deal in 2003 that gave the Kyrgyz government a 17-percent stake in the country's largest gold mine, Kumtor, with Centerra recieving an 83 percent share.
Three former ministers have already been charged with corruption in connection to Kumtor in recent days.
The Kumtor deal was renegotiated in 2009, giving the Kyrgyz government a 33-percent share.
Last week, the Kyrgyz parliament rejected a new government-proposed deal in which Centerra and the Kyrgyz government would each own a 50-percent share.
Lawmakers requested the government to agree on a new deal with Centerra by December 23 to raise Kyrgyz ownership to 67 percent.