The negotiations also involved the Minister of Energy of Kyrgyzstan Talaybek Ibraev, Alexey Shirshov, and representatives of PJSC "RusHydro".
Photo from the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation. Kyrgyz delegation. Far left - Alexey Shirshov
After the meeting, discussions began on social media and in the media regarding Alexey Shirshov's role in these negotiations. Daniyar Amangeldiev answered questions from the publication 24.kg.
He noted that Shirshov's participation in meetings with the Russian minister and representatives of "RusHydro" was dictated by pragmatic interests and the need for expert support in complex negotiations.
“The agenda includes a pressing issue regarding the Upper Naryn cascade of hydropower plants, which has not progressed since 2016. The Russian side demands the return of invested funds, and our task is to find the most advantageous solution for Kyrgyzstan,” Amangeldiev said.
Alexey Shirshov was brought into the negotiations due to his deep knowledge of the project, dating back to 2008. His understanding of the nuances and technical details is essential for forming a reasoned position for the Kyrgyz side in dialogue with "RusHydro".
“We are actively using all available resources to advance the project and protect the economic interests of the republic in the energy sector,” the deputy prime minister added.
He also mentioned that Shirshov had collaborated with the previous government under Akylbek Japarov. “He ensured the return of 6 billion soms in the 'Elkat' case and helped recover the assets of the Bakiev family from Spain. In this context, Shirshov can be useful, as we have lost contact with many potential witnesses,” Amangeldiev noted.
“We are experiencing a shortage of electricity, and it is necessary to resolve this problem quickly. It is important to remember that the previous administration under Almazbek Atambayev denounced the agreement with 'RusHydro', which led to litigation, resulting in Kyrgyzstan having to pay the company $37 million, including fines, with the total amount exceeding $50 million,” he added.
“We are negotiating with the Russian side and proposing various options for solving the problem. One of them is the cancellation of the $37 million debt, as well as the possibility of joint construction of the cascade of hydropower plants with a new investor who has shown interest in the project. However, I cannot name him yet, as the negotiation process is ongoing. We have outlined further steps and decided to continue working in this direction,” Amangeldiev concluded.
President Sadyr Japarov previously stated that the resumption of construction of the Upper Naryn cascade of hydropower plants is only possible after resolving the debt dispute with "RusHydro".
It is worth noting that Alexey Shirshov was detained on May 9, 2022, on suspicion of corruption, but was later released under house arrest. The investigation believes he is involved in the illegal withdrawal of state-owned real estate from the territory of the "Aurora Plus" recreation center.
