Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Rasul Kusherbayev, speaking with a loud statement that UzAuto Motors sells ambulance cars at high prices, went beyond the framework of a civilized dialogue, since for an unprepared reader this means that the company specially inflates prices in these cases, UzAuto Motors said in a statement.

Of course, there is not a word of truth in this, and UzAuto Motors, knowing full well that for some politicians, populism is the main, if not the only weapon, is ready to sort out Rasul Khidralievich’s accusations point by point.

Mr. Kusherbayev says UzAuto Motors is ignoring the dire situation in Uzbekistan in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are convinced that a professional journalist needs to better understand the meaning of the words he utters, and an experienced parliamentarian should be more responsible for his words. Obviously, for a deputy, this is just a post designed to gather light coverage by contrasting his persona with the whole industry. However, basic respect for your constituents means providing them with verified information. Alas, there is no credibility in the deputy’s words.

Not only UzAuto Motors, but also personnel and partners of the company have been actively involved in the fight against coronavirus since the first days of the pandemic. Yes, the company may not advertise all of its charitable actions, but this does not give any politician the right to belittle the contribution of industry enterprises and tens of thousands of their employees to the common cause.

It is not in the company’s rules to talk about his contribution to charity, but Rasul Kusherbayev, with his insulting post, forces him to remember that Uzavtosanoat JSC and its structural divisions were among the first to transfer over 1 billion soums to the Uzbekiston Mehr-Shafqat va Salomatlik Public Fund. In addition, in April 2002, the company initiated the supply of medical equipment to the republic for 2 billion soums by foreign partners. More than 2 billion soums were transferred by industry enterprises in favor of those affected by the break of the dam of the Sardobin reservoir and the hurricane wind in the Bukhara region.

In addition, the industry donated ventilators and 2500 containers to the authorities for the construction of quarantine facilities. Moreover, in the very first days of the epidemic, when special quarantine centers had not yet been created, Uzavtosanoat JSC provided the Sokol departmental health camp in Khojikent to accommodate hundreds of people in quarantine with their full content. So, after all this and much more, how correct is it to say that the company is not affected by the suffering of its compatriots?

A member of the respected O’zLiDeP faction cites a very interesting example as a confirmation of his attack on UzAuto Motors that the khokimiyat of Fergana region has purchased 20 new Damas cars. It is not entirely clear what exactly Mr. Kusherbayev wanted to say. If this is a hint that cars should be supplied free of charge for ambulance needs, then it would probably not have been difficult for him to find out that just last week UzAuto Motors handed over six Damas ambulances to the khokimiyat of Andijan region for free. Apparently, it was a mistake not to announce it in all the media, but the company does not consider it correct to display these facts amid the general disaster.

Probably Rasul Khidralievich would like all ambulance cars to be provided free of charge? But, in connection with this idea of the highly respected deputy of the Legislative Chamber, the company would like to recall some of the norms of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Charity". According to them, the annual charity expenses of business entities with a state share in the authorized capital of more than 50% should not exceed 10% of the net profit received over the previous year. In this connection, UzAuto Motors, which in the first half of the year alone sent more than 37 billion soums to charity, cannot cross this threshold with all its will.

“And now the question: who in our country writes the laws? Heads of UzAuto Motors or deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis? Everything is in your hands, and in the hands of your colleagues, dear Mr. Kusherbayev,” the statement reads.

UzAuto Motors in its charitable activities is guided by the laws developed by you, limited by the framework you have introduced, so why does the negative come from you?

Does the company object to the law that UzAuto Motors enterprises provide their products for ambulance needs free of charge? - No, the company doesn’t mind.

Is the company ready to comply with such a law if it is passed? - With joy!

Has such a draft bill been submitted to parliament? - In any case, the company has not heard about it yet.

Did Rasul Kusherbayev speak publicly with such an idea or any other initiative to overcome the epidemiological crisis? - Definitely not.