This submission...draws attention to the situation of the former inhabitants of the village of Kazas, Myski municipal district of Kemerovo Oblast. Kazas is a now defunct hamlet of indigenous Shor people, wholly surrounded by open cast mining sites...The village has suffered a process of systematic destruction driven by mining interests, from which the local authorities have failed to protect. The villagers are now displaced, some are reported homeless. No adequate substitute land has been offered and no compensation provided that would enable the former inhabitants to rebuild their livelihood. Their main place of worship, the sacred mountain of Karagai-Nash, has been severely violated by mining. Access to the cemetery where their ancestors are buried is greatly impeded...[T]he village of Kazas no longer exists. All houses except one, which is severely damaged, have been demolished or burned down. The villagers have been displaced, yet no effective redress or adequate compensation has been provided. This state of affairs is directly related to the issuing of a mining licence for the “Beregovoi” mine to OAO “Yuzhnaya”, a subsidiary of the “Sibuglemet” holding and subsequent failures on the part of the company to respect the rights of the inhabitants of the village and of the local authorities to protect their rights against abuse by third parties.