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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

Economy Government Economic Growth Export statistics

Kyrgyz Economy Is on the Rise

Government statistics and independent analysts note growth in almost all sectors of the Kyrgyz economy The most significant increase is recorded in the construction sector, which in turn, has positively impacted other sectors, such as industrial production, agriculture, and foreign trade. Speaking to The Times of Central Asia, macroeconomics expert Nasirdin Shamshiev remarked: “This year, due to favorable weather, twice as many beets, and one and a half times more barley and wheat were harvested. Due to the high rate of construction of small hydropower plants, the energy sector is also showing good growth. In addition, the production of construction materials has increased, and textile production is growing. Exports for the first eight months of 2024 increased by 13.5%, and imports by 8.1%." According to Shamshiev, the good economic dynamics were influenced by several factors: the strengthening of fiscal rules, fighting corruption and illegal financial flows, and a balanced monetary policy. Earlier, Kyrgyzstan' president Akylbek Japarov, held a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, during which the socio-economic development results for the first nine months of 2024 were summarized. According to Japarov, Kyrgyzstan's GDP grew by 8.4%. However, gold exports, traditionally the economy's leading revenue-generating sector, have declined this year; a situation previously reported by The Times of Central Asia with reference to a decline in production at Kumtor, the country's largest gold mine. According to the Prime Minister's information, 37% of the growth in the construction sector provides an increase in industrial production in Kyrgyzstan. Data also shows that over the past year, following the launch of the Chinese oil refinery Junda near Bishkek, the production of refined petroleum products almost doubled. Hailing the success of recent ventures, Japarov stated: “The growth rate of our economy is nothing short of encouraging. We are now implementing the Leap of the Leopard program and approaching our set ambitious goals and objectives."

1 month ago

Economy Gold mining in central asia Gold Trade National Bank

Kyrgyzstan Removes Restrictions on Sale of Gold

In early September, a state-owned store selling gold bars opened in Bishkek where gold can be bought without the presentation of a passport. Kyrgyzaltyn OJSC has already reported record sales, topping 50 million KGS ($585 thousand), and providing the store with a net income of 3 million KGS ($35 thousand). Changes in the law which previously allowed gold bars to only be bought in limited amounts through the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan, were instigated by President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyz, who explained: “The National Bank does not sell bullion without a passport. Businessmen and rich people approached me - worried that if they started showing their documents - the whole of Kyrgyzstan would know about it, including robbers. Businessmen said they would have to stay in their houses and guard the gold,” Having lifted restrictions, Sadyr Japarov called on citizens to buy domestic gold, recommending it as a reliable and profitable investment. The Kyrgyzaltyn store sells gold bars weighing from 1 to 100 grams, each carrying an individual QR code confirming the gold's origin. Prices for the sale and repurchase of gold are set daily, based on London Bullion Exchange quotations. Kyrgyz economists believe that the growth of investment in gold indicates an increase in confidence in this asset. “In Kyrgyzstan, this trend is influenced by several factors. Global instability and fluctuations in currency markets make people look for more reliable assets. Declining yields on bank deposits are also pushing for alternatives. In addition, inflation expectations encourage people to convert their savings into gold,” economist Nurgul Akimova told The Times of Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan has about 380 gold deposits, the largest of which is Kumtor in Issyk-Kul Oblast. The republic's mining sector produced over 20 tons of gold in 2023.

1 month ago

Press Freedom Court Cases Justice Media Freedom Mass Media

“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,...

1 month 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.

2 months ago

Economy Transport Construction roads Infrastructure Development Local Economy

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.

2 months ago