Abstract

At present, the growth of various environmental protests is observed in contemporary society. The priorities of developing countries regarding the extractive industry tend to focus on economic interests leading them to provide a conducive environment for investments by private entities. Furthermore, reforms in the industry are inclined to promote these priorities with less consideration for adequate protection for affected people and their environment, including protection from resulting social and environmental impacts. In countries with a resource-based economy, resources are poorly managed and the outcomes of exploitation of mineral resources are environmental degradation, loss of lives, displacement, protests against mining projects, and human rights violations. In the countries of Central Asia, these phenomena were most evident in Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyzstan protest movement has gained momentum in recent years, driven by a range of social and political issues. However, environmental problems have also played a significant role in fueling the protests. The impact of environmental degradation and natural disasters, such as landslides and floods, have created a sense of urgency and heightened awareness among the public about the need for action. This paper examines environmental protests in Kyrgyzstan, focusing on an environmental social movement. Theoretical and practical issues of environmental protests in Kyrgyzstan are considered in the specified article. During the research, the scientific literature on protests in this country is classified according to various problems, and a secondary analysis of the results of sociological surveys and in-depth interviews is carried out. The discussion focuses on the results of the protests of recent years in Kyrgyz society. The causes of environmental protests were analyzed during the research. In addition, attention was paid to the views of various researchers on their features.