Our People > Anton Chipegin

Anton Chipegin

Anton was born and grew up in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He worked as a television correspondent, editor and TV presenter on the main television channels of the republic, such as NTS and MIR 24, and also as an economic observer at international news agencies and other media resources of Kyrgyzstan.

Articles

Mass Media Media Freedom Justice Court Cases Press Freedom

“A Punitive Decision To Scare Journalists”: Bolot Temirov Hits Back at Bishkek Court

After almost a year of proceedings, the Lenin District Court in Bishkek has convicted journalists Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy and Azamat Ishenbekov of the Temirov Live project. Both were sentenced for calling for "mass disorder;" a verdict which the media project founder, Bolot Temirov, considers revenge for their professional activities. According to the court ruling, Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy (head of Temirov Live) was sentenced to six years in prison, and journalist Azamat Ishenbekov, to five years. Two journalists, Aktilek Kaparov and Ayka Beishenalieva, were sentenced to three years of probation, whilst the remaining seven project employees were acquitted. On January 16, 2024, law enforcers searched the office of Temirov Live and seized all editorial equipment in the interest of the investigation. Eleven employees of the publication were searched and detained. Later, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry said they had studied Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese's content on social networks and that results of the forensic examination had shown that the employees of the editions had called for mass riots. A criminal case was initiated under Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, “Calls for active disobedience to the lawful demands of representatives and mass disorder.” Two months later, most of the participants in the trial were released under house arrest, leaving four journalists in detention. In an interview with the state news agency Kabar, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said two of the eleven defendants were professional journalists but emphasized that the “others are said to have education only to an 11th-grade level. How can you deny they were paid some money to sit on social networks and spread false messages calling for unrest? Once again, false information calling for unrest is not freedom of speech." The detention of the journalists had been earlier criticized by the UN Human Rights Office and other international organizations. Bolot Temirov, husband of convicted journalist Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy and founder of the Temirov Live project, whom Kyrgyz authorities expelled from the country in 2022 and stripped of his Kyrgyz citizenship, told The Times of Central Asia that he disagreed with the court's verdict. He claimed the decision was political and that his wife was convicted only to blackmail him: “This is a punitive decision to scare journalists and our citizens. I regard (the court's verdict) as revenge against me personally.... Why were some convicted and others not? I have no idea what's going on in their heads. Based on the law, there is no single offense. There was no call for mass riots, disobedience to the authorities, or any violence against citizens." Temirov said he was especially shocked by the harsh sentence served on his wife, and the court's refusal to grant a reprieve until his 12-year-old son came of age. The Bishkek Leninsky Court ruled that the child be handed over to the guardianship authorities and transferred to an orphanage. According to Temirov, the court should have appointed him as guardian since no one had deprived him of parental rights, or alternatively,...

13 hours ago

Economy Kumtor Gold mining in central asia Gold Gold Mining

Kumtor: Drop In Gold Production No Cause For Concern

Kyrgyzstan's largest gold mining company, Kumtor, has announced a decrease in gold production. However, authorities assure that this is temporary. In 2023, Kumtor Gold Company produced 13.5 tons of gold, less than planned; the professional community even began to talk about the mine's imminent depletion. However, the company itself hastened to reassure citizens. The company's representatives commented: “Reduced gold production targets are common due to the low grade of gold in commercial ore mined at Kumtor. The mining of low-grade ore will continue for some time. In the future, gold production is expected to increase to 17-18 tons gradually. This takes into account the implementation of projects for underground mining of gold-containing ore and processing waste ore from the tailings pond.” It is worth noting that all of Kyrgyzstan is watching the volume of gold production, as Kumtor's share of the country's GDP is almost 10%. In 2023, the company paid more than $200 million to the country's budget. After nationalization in 2021, foreign experts predicted a rapid closure of production. Allegedly, the gold extracted by open-pit mining at the mine is running out. “Right now, the ore is poor," responded Cabinet Chief Akylbek Japarov to the criticism. "We plan to mine 14 tons each. Previously, we were getting 17 tons. This happens in geology.” However, the low figures have forced the country's authorities to reconsider their approach to mining. Gold will now be mined underground. In addition, it was announced that the processing of gold in Kumtor's tailings pond will begin soon. Specialists of the Institute of Geology at the National Academy of Sciences confirmed to The Times of Central Asia information about the reduction of precious metals in the area of the open pit at Kumtor. Earlier, there were 7 grams of gold per ton of ore; today, it is 5 grams. “But the gold is not running out. There is still quite a lot of gold at Kumtor - over a thousand tons. But everything depends on the areas that are going to be developed. Part of the gold-bearing strip is under glaciers,” said geologist Rozalia Jenchuraeva. The Institute of Geology recommends that the government quietly conduct exploration and not rush to mine gold hidden under glaciers, as this could damage the ecology. “There is still enough gold at Kumtor, and you don't have to worry about it. Although gold mined underground will be more expensive, this method will have less impact on the melting of glaciers. The depth of gold content will probably change, but we will have enough for a hundred years; we need to be rational in our approach to mining,” Jenchuraeva emphasized. Previously, the Kumtor mine produced 20-22 tons of gold annually.

5 days ago

roads Infrastructure Development Local Economy Economy Transport Construction

New Road Promised for Kyrgyzstan’s Highest Village

The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan has announced a tender for the construction of a road to Kyrgyzstan's highest village of Zardaly in the Batken oblast. Authorities have set aside 389 million KGS ($4.5 million) for the construction of the 4.2 kilometer road and according to published data, bids will be accepted until October 22 this year. The village of Zardaly is located in the highlands on Kyrgyzstan's border with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. At present, only one narrow, stony road leads to the settlement, accessible only between May to October. With the onset of cold weather, snow makes it impossible to get to the village, and residents are cut off from the outside world. It should be noted that Zardaly lacks cellular communication, the recently installed internet only serves the local school, and there are significant problems with electricity. As a local proverb says, “If there is no urgent business - do not enter Zardaly." On the day prior to the announcement of the tender, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov visited Zardaly by helicopter. Whilst there, he promised residents that a highway would be built in the village in spring 2025, after which electricity would be supplied. He also instructed the presidential administration to solve the issue of cellular communications in the region. In earlier complaints about the situation in the village, Kyrgyzstan's ombudsman said that although Zardaly became a village in 2016, residents still require help accessing medical services and quality education.

7 days ago

Economy Legislation Regulation gasoline gasoline price

Price of Gasoline Set to Rise in Kyrgyzstan

The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan has presented a bill, approved by parliament, introducing new mark-ups on fuel and lubricants. Legislative changes to impose additional charges on each liter of gasoline sold at gas stations, are intended to accrue extra funds from motorists for road maintenance. In addition, a recycling fee will be introduced for processing automobile tires, alongside a fee for waste oil disposal, to be accumulated in a new Road Fund under the Finance Ministry. Other regulations introduced by the Cabinet of Ministers include the necessity for all gas stations to use unique markers for gasoline and diesel ; a move which the State Tax Service believes will ensure fuel production transparency and import accounting. The cost of such labeling is yet to be determined, and as stated by Kanat Eshatov, president of the Association of Oil Traders of Kyrgyzstan, “We don't know how much gasoline prices may go up. It will all depend on the size of these fees. Initially, they said that gasoline labeling, in general, would be free. Then, they said that it would be at the expense of oil traders. Today, we do not know the price of the marker, whether it will be stable or change, and whether it will be subject to stock exchange jumps or stability. The price of gasoline and its stability will depend on this." The cost of gasoline has been rising throughout the year, largely as a result of a general increase in prices and repairs at refineries in Russia, from which Kyrgyzstan receives a significant amount of fuel. Meanwhile, the State Antimonopoly Service of Kyrgyzstan reports that the situation in the market of fuels and lubricants in the country remains stable. Supplies of oil products to Kyrgyzstan are carried out without interruptions, and fuel reserves in the country are designed for 1.5-2 months.

1 week ago

Energy Security hydroelectric HPP Kambarata Economy Energy

How Kyrgyz Authorities Are Fighting Energy Shortages

Despite the launch of the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydroelectric power plant, Kyrgyzstan needs more electricity. One solution could be to launch small hydropower plants. Officials said building such plants on the country's numerous rivers is not costly. According to the Kyrgyz Energy Ministry, commissioning such HPPs could take only 1.5-2 years. There are currently 24 small hydropower plants in operation in the country, and there is potential for more than 80 more. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyz Deputy Energy Minister Nurlan Sadykov said that every citizen has the opportunity to build a small hydropower plant. Startup permits can be obtained quite easily. “We have a Green Energy Fund, which is authorized to issue land for small-scale energy needs, including the construction of solar panels and wind farms. This body holds a competition where anyone can participate equally, whether a Kyrgyz citizen or a foreign investor. The main thing is to confirm your financial capabilities,” Sadykov said. Sadykov said most investors borrow from local or international banks in one way or another. The authorities can guarantee the return of invested funds through electricity tariffs. “A presidential decree has been issued. According to the document, the state is guaranteed to buy electricity. If the investor wants to receive money for generated electricity in foreign currency, the state can provide payments in US dollars,” the deputy minister emphasized. Chinese and Russian companies are interested in building renewable energy sources in Kyrgyzstan. A campaign to raise funds from local businessmen is also underway. It is worth noting that Kyrgyzstan is experiencing an increase in electricity consumption. The country produces about 14 billion kilowatt-hours annually, but consumption, especially in winter, can reach 17 billion kilowatt-hours. To compensate for the missing electricity, the authorities import it from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

2 weeks ago