Political instability in Kyrgyzstan following the October 2020 elections and the ensuing protests, referendum to switch from a parliamentary system of government to a presidential system, and then the election of nationalist Sadyr Japarov as president, led to a law being adopted that allowed Kyrgyzstan to temporarily operate the Kumtor Gold Mine for 3 months for the purposes of rectifying alleged dangers to people and the natural environment. At the same time, a Kyrgyz court fined the company US$3 billion for violations of environmental laws. Centerra had the Kumtor Gold Company subsidiaries declared bankruptcy and filed for arbitration with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. Former Prime Minister Ömürbek Babanov and other officials came under investigation of financial crimes related to Kumtor.