Against the backdrop of a deteriorating environmental situation and an acute shortage of land resources in Tashkent, Tashkent Mayor (hokim) Shavkat Umurzakov continues to ignore existing legal norms and regulations in the field of urban development, making decisions that raise serious questions about their legality and compliance with the interests of society. These decisions, taken in defiance of public opinion and expert assessments, are leading to the destruction of green spaces, parks and historical monuments, which are being replaced by multi-storey buildings and commercial facilities.

The audio recording presented here captures the voice of Doniyor Nortadzhiev, a representative of the developer constructing a multi-storey residential complex at the intersection of Mirzo Tursunzoda and Shokirarik streets in the Sergeli district of Tashkent, who is trying to smooth over the growing discontent of citizens who disagree with the construction work being carried out.

The key point of the conversation is the assertion that all efforts made by residents to stop the construction project have no chance of success. This statement is reinforced by the mention that Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov is personally behind the project, which serves as a signal to outraged citizens that construction work will continue regardless of their protests and objections. Such a statement could be seen as putting pressure on people to stop them from exercising their legal right to express their views and protect their interests in relation to their living conditions and the environment.

Looking ahead, we note that work is currently underway on the construction of monolithic structures for the sixth floor.

The second part of the former car park territory was transferred in the same way to “Dalod Savdo” LLC for the organisation of a car wash.

Illegal business practices and unauthorised construction and installation work carried out in violation of legislative requirements and established standards have created a serious threat to environmental safety. Environmental pollution from chemical waste from car washes, construction waste and emissions has been a direct cause of the deterioration of the environmental situation.

The intensive use of roads by heavy construction equipment, combined with the general disorganisation of the process, led to a significant increase in traffic load. As a result, the accident rate increased, posing a greater danger to road users and residents of nearby neighbourhoods.

After numerous complaints from residents of nearby houses to state authorities, in January this year, the Tashkent City Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal case against the managers of “Sergeli Savdo Markazi” LLC and “Dalod Savdo” LLC.

However, after the intervention of Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov in the investigation, the investigator of the capital’s prosecutor’s office issued an indictment only against the head of “Dalod Savdo” LLC and, on 10 April this year, sent the criminal case for trial to the Tashkent City Court for Criminal Cases.

As of the date of publication of this article, construction and installation work on the illegal construction of a multi-storey residential complex at the intersection of Mirzo Tursunzoda and Shokirarik streets in the Sergeli district continues.

The official documents presented to us indicate “Sergeli Savdo Markazi” LLC as the developer, but this company is not registered in the Uzbekistan business register.

“Sergeli Savdo Markazi” LLC is a phantom company that exists only on paper and is used to create the appearance of economic activity in order to legalise corrupt projects.

The executive branch of Uzbekistan is structured in such a way that up to a dozen phantom companies have been created in each district, city, and regional hokimiyat (municipality) to embezzle budgetary, investment, and international credit funds, as well as state property. This system, deeply rooted in the structure of power, creates a favourable environment for corruption and abuse, undermining the foundations of the rule of law and economic development in the country.

The mechanism of these shell companies is simple but effective. Thanks to close ties with local authorities, these companies win contracts by offering grossly inflated prices or poor-quality services. The difference between the actual cost of the work and the amount paid under the contract, which can be up to 10 times the amount, ends up in the pockets of government officials.

International loans allocated for infrastructure development and social projects are also at risk of being misused. Contracts with fictitious companies complicate the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of spending, which ultimately leads to a decline in the quality of services provided and a slowdown in Uzbekistan’s economic development.

Investors faced with such practices are often forced to either pay kickbacks or abandon projects, which has a negative impact on the country’s investment climate.

Against the backdrop of political instability in the country, government officials, such as Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov, use their power to steal as much money as possible, pushing the country into debt bondage.

Corruption, which permeates all levels of government, has become not just a problem, but a threat to national security.