Construction companies that filled in Lake Issyk-Kul were unable to produce the necessary permits

Construction companies carrying out work in the village of Tamchy on the shores of Issyk-Kul failed to provide the requested documents during an inspection. The companies in question are ‘Elizaveta’, ‘Kyrgyz Invest Stroy’ and ‘Avangard Stil’.

Earlier, video footage circulated online showing alleged dumping of sand and soil into the lake. At the time, activists claimed there may have been a breach of environmental legislation and risks to the Issyk-Kul ecosystem.

On 22 April 2026, the Issyk-Kul Regional Office of the Environmental and Technical Supervision Service received official complaints from citizens and organisations. 

As early as 23 April, following consultation with the Ministry of Economy, unscheduled inspections of the aforementioned companies were initiated.

As part of the inspection, surveying measurements are being carried out to determine the area and extent of changes in the riparian zone. The developers were also asked to provide permits for carrying out work in the water protection zone and directly in the lake’s waters.

However, at the time of the inspection, the construction companies had not provided such documents.

It should be noted that, according to ecologist Sergei Krivoruchko, the visible scale of earthworks at these sites has already led to the physical destruction of the local coastal ecosystem, with no possibility of its restoration.