President of Uzbekistan Criticizes Tashkent Tax Authorities Over Lack of Discipline at “Chorsu” and “Malika” Markets

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 27 January, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev sharply criticized the work of Tashkent’s tax authorities during a government meeting, pointing to systemic violations and the absence of payment discipline at the city’s largest marketplaces, including the “Chorsu” and “Malika” markets.

The head of state noted that at the “Malika” trading complex, where approximately 1,500 entrepreneurs are registered, tax records are effectively maintained for only a quarter of them, while another quarter of traders do not pay even one million soums in tax per month.

He also highlighted that in December 2025, payments totaling 600 billion soums made via bank cards were withdrawn and not reflected in accounting records, equivalent to nearly 50 million US dollars.

The activities of the Tashkent City Tax Administration were singled out for criticism. The president emphasized that the budget plan is being met through excessive assessments imposed on honest entrepreneurs: of 46,400 enterprises, 876 billion soums were collected above the established norms.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev additionally noted a rise in artificially created VAT overpayments followed by illegal refunds from the state budget. Last year, 20 tax officials faced criminal charges related to unlawful VAT reimbursements.

Particular “carelessness and irresponsibility” were attributed to the First Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee, Mubin Mirzaev, who oversaw this area for seven years. Following the meeting, he was dismissed from his post. At the time of the meeting, Mirzaev was in Paris participating in the sixth session of the OECD-led Global Forum on VAT.

The president instructed the dismissal of the head of the Shaykhantakhur District Tax Inspectorate, H. Mulladzhonov, and the head of the Tashkent City Tax Administration, Yunusjon Nasimdzhanov, with an order to analyze their work and ensure the rule of law.

Chairman of the Tax Committee Farrukh Pulatov was tasked with relieving all heads of the city’s district tax inspectorates of their positions and appointing acting officials. Pulatov and the new compliance deputy, Abdulaziz Soliev, are charged with establishing an uncompromising anti-corruption environment in Tashkent, reviewing the suitability of current leaders, and replacing them with patriotic, energetic young professionals focused on innovation.

Additionally, the president ordered the immediate dismissal of A. Ganiev, deputy head of the city department of the General Prosecutor’s Office, for facilitating tax evasion by entrepreneurs. Abdulaziz Soliev and Tashkent deputy hokim for compliance, Muhammad Mirhamidov, were appointed responsible for creating a strict, uncompromising system against the shadow economy in the capital.