President bans seizure of land without open discussion

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on “On measures to dramatically improve the investment climate in the Republic of Uzbekistan” on 1 August.

According to the document, starting from 1 September, decisions on seizing land for state and public needs can only be taken after an open discussion with interested parties, whose land plots are planned to be seized, as well as assessing the benefits and costs.

At the same time, the document said that the demolition of residential and industrial premises, as well as other structures and objects belonging to individuals and legal entities, with the seizure of land is permitted only after full compensation of the market value of real estate and losses caused to owners in connection with such withdrawal.

Losses caused to individuals and legal entities as a result of the issuance of an illegal administrative act of a state body (official) are subject to reimbursement by the state, primarily through extrabudgetary funds of the relevant bodies, followed by recovery from the guilty person in recourse.

The seizure of land plots for state and public needs is allowed only for the following purposes:

• provision of lands for defense and state security needs, protected natural areas, creation and operation of free economic zones;
• fulfillment of obligations arising from international treaties;
• detection and development of mineral deposits;
• construction (reconstruction) of roads and railways, airports, airfields, air navigation facilities and aviation technical centers, railway transport facilities, bridges, subways, tunnels, power systems and power transmission facilities, communication lines, space objects, trunk pipelines, engineering and communication networks ;
• implementation of general plans for settlements in the construction of facilities at the expense of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as in other cases directly provided for by laws and decisions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

From 1 October 2018, Uzbekistan will introduce new mechanisms for providing land for investment:

• land plot for non-agricultural purposes for a period of up to 50 years, but not less than the period specified in the application for the implementation of investment projects;
• realization through the auction of the right of permanent possession of land for the construction of real estate (hotels, shopping facilities, cultural and entertainment complexes, consumer services, educational and medical organizations, road infrastructure, etc.).