Mount Boz Boltok is one of the iconic mountain ranges located near the capital, situated above the residential area of "Orto-Sai." This area is remembered for being where the Soviet artist Semyon Chuykov created his famous painting "Daughter of Soviet Kyrgyzstan," with the mountains serving as a backdrop that has become a kind of business card for Bishkek.
Photo from the internet
According to the ecological project ecomap.kg, there are cases of destruction of rare plant and animal species listed in the Red Book on the slopes of Boz Boltok, which is associated with the extraction of inert materials.
Local residents and activists have previously raised the issue of the need to protect this mountain as a sacred and historically significant place. Memorial signs and flagpoles have been installed on neighboring peaks, attracting tourists and city dwellers, and the mountains themselves are considered an important part of the capital's panorama.
On April 25, 2022, the president signed a decree granting Mount Boz Boltok the status of an archaeological-historical reserve.
Despite this, dozens of subsoil users with licenses for clay and gravel extraction continue their activities in the area of the mountain.
Ecologists emphasize that the problem affects not only the destruction of the landscape. Quarry mining in the suburbs of Bishkek has already led to the destruction of habitats for rare plants and animals, including species listed in the Red Book, in nearby areas. Restoring such ecosystems can take decades, and in some cases, lost communities may never be returned.
A new video with drone footage vividly demonstrates the scale of the work: part of the slope has already turned into a stepped excavation, and signs of reclamation are not visible. Against this backdrop, local residents from nearby villages and dacha areas demand explanations from government authorities regarding the inclusion of the mountain in the Register of specially protected objects and the restriction of industrial extraction.
Mount Boz Boltok holds sacred and historical significance for local residents, associated with the name of Baytik Batyr — a legendary hero mentioned in folk tales as the protector of the region. On the southern slope of the mountain lies the mausoleum of Baytik Batyr, which is a place of memory and reverence.
