Tashkent Entrepreneurs Complain About Forced Sign Removals

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Bobur Bekmurodov, chairman of the Yuksalish movement, has criticized Tashkent city authorities for forcibly dismantling entrepreneurs’ signs and advertising structures. According to Bekmurodov, such actions have triggered justified complaints from the business community.

Bekmurodov stressed that while the city’s aesthetic should be modern and attractive, any changes must strictly follow legal procedures. He highlighted several issues:

First, the Tashkent City Council’s decisions take effect three months after official publication, yet demolitions began prematurely, violating the principle of non-retroactivity.

Second, the current moratorium on new business obligations means that the design code imposes additional financial burdens on entrepreneurs.

Third, any enforcement measures should be based on a lawful court decision, whereas demands to remove signs within two days exemplify administrative arbitrariness, undermining investor confidence.

Bekmurodov noted that in developed countries, businesses are typically given a transition period or compensated for costs when design codes change, while in Tashkent, the entire burden falls on entrepreneurs.

He urged the city administration to halt illegal actions and establish cooperation with business owners based on equal partnership and open dialogue, emphasizing that the city’s beauty should not come at the expense of business livelihoods.