Several Officials Detained in Tashkent Region and Capital over Extortion and Abuse of Power Cases

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Officers from the State Security Service (SSS) and other law enforcement agencies have detained several individuals in connection with two separate cases involving the extortion of large sums from entrepreneurs, the authorities reported.

According to the investigation, in the first case, the chief specialist of the Investment, Industry, and Trade Department of the Khokimiyat of Tashkent Region, a notary assistant practicing privately in the capital, a real estate agent born in 1980, and a citizen born in 1996 conspired to mislead an entrepreneur planning a business project.

The suspects allegedly demanded $7.3 million from the entrepreneur. Of this, $6.8 million was purportedly for the potential sale of 8.5 hectares of land in Chirchik owned by a limited liability company, while the remaining $500,000 was requested for assistance in obtaining technical permits and approvals for connection to utility networks and conducting construction work.

Law enforcement officers detained the suspects while they were receiving $160,000 of the demanded sum. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 168, Part 4(a) and Article 211, Part 3(a) of the Criminal Code. The investigation is ongoing.

In the second case, the SSS reported that a resident of Tashkent, born in 1986, leased an 80-square-meter plot in Yashnabad District in 2022 for 49 years through the “E-auction” system.

Construction of a service facility was subsequently halted, after which the district Khokimiyat filed a court case seeking to terminate the lease. The court ruled in favor of the lessee based on the documents provided.

It was established that the chief legal advisor of the Yashnabad District Khokimiyat, representing the plaintiff in court, demanded $5,000 from the entrepreneur in exchange for not filing an appeal. He was detained by SSS officers and the Department under the General Prosecutor’s Office while receiving $4,000.

A criminal case has been initiated against the official under Article 210, Part 2(c) of the Criminal Code, and a pretrial detention measure has been imposed.