Kazakh Entrepreneur Reports Hostile Takeover of TM Barber Business in Tashkent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Kazakh entrepreneur and founder of the TM Barber brand, Tair Marassulov, addressed a video appeal to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva, reporting a hostile takeover of his business in the Uzbek capital.

Marassulov noted that the TM Barber brand was registered in Kazakhstan in 2012 and entered the Uzbek market in 2022, opening a network of barbershops in Tashkent. According to him, the project was actively developing, with plans to open up to twenty branches, create new jobs, and train young specialists.

The entrepreneur claims that the hostile takeover was orchestrated by Bekhzod Normatov, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Energy and head of JSC Uztransgaz, and is now an adviser to the Minister of Mining and Geology. In his appeal, Marassulov attached screenshots of correspondence and audio recordings of conversations with the official.

“I came to Uzbekistan to contribute to the development of the service sector, create jobs, and help young people master a profession. Unfortunately, I faced blatant injustice and an attempt to seize my business,” the entrepreneur stated.

He said that after the successful launch of the branch, former partners “attempted to illegally appropriate the brand, equipment, and premises” and registered a legal entity with a similar name, continuing operations under the TM Barber brand without the rights holder’s consent.

“My attempts to resolve the matter peacefully have been unsuccessful. At present, I am effectively deprived of access to my facilities and brand, while local authorities are not taking effective measures to protect the rights of a foreign investor,” Marassulov emphasized.

He added that the company is officially registered in Kazakhstan and that the TM Barber brand is protected by a patent; all rights to the trademark, logo, and corporate identity belong to him.

The entrepreneur personally appealed to the president and the head of the administration to draw attention to the situation, noting that investor protection and combating hostile takeovers are essential for trust in the country’s reforms and investment climate.

Marassulov stated that relevant complaints have already been submitted to Uzbek law enforcement agencies, but the investigation “is being delayed without objective reasons.” He expressed hope that justice will prevail and that those responsible will be held accountable, stressing that Uzbekistan has enormous potential and should attract investors rather than lose them due to arbitrariness and corruption.