The Growth, Adaptation and Limitations of Chinese Private Security Companies in Central Asia

Abstract

Following flawed parliamentary elections on October 4, thousands of Kyrgyz citizens took to the streets across the country to contest the elections and advocate for their own candidates. Rapidly, the government lost control, with protesters storming parliament, forcing local officials to resign and individuals appointing themselves to government positions. Taking advantage of the anarchical situation, groups began seizing local economic assets. A crowd of 300 broke into the Ishtamberdi gold mine, operated by Chinese company Full Gold Mining, expelling the Chinese workers.i Locals also seized a mine in Kichi-Chaarat, owned by China National Gold Group Corp.