Denial: Aripov and Umurzakov Not Responsible for Demolition of Ground Floor Cafes and Shops

Reports regarding the destruction of several shops and restaurants in the Mirzo Ulugbek district of Tashkent, the capital city, have been circulating on various networks.  In response to this news, the press service of the Tashkent city administration has issued a statement.

According to the reports, shops and restaurants operated by business entities on the ground floors of residential buildings numbered 27, 28, 30, and 31 in Markaz-1 (S1) daha of the Mirzo Ulugbek district were demolished. It has been alleged that the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, and the Acting Mayor of Tashkent, Shavkat Umurzakov, made the decision for their removal.

Furthermore, residents living in Markaz-1 daha expressed their discontent with the operations of these establishments situated on the lower floors of their residential buildings. They complained about the noise, food odours, and the inconvenience caused by the vehicles of customers visiting these establishments.

In response to these grievances, the city administration and the control inspection authorities responsible for construction and housing and communal services conducted an investigation. The findings revealed that the business entities had severely violated urban planning regulations. They had made unauthorized and illegal modifications to the buildings and carried out construction work in contravention of urban planning norms.

The statement from the governor's office emphasized that the Tashkent city administration handled the situation and took appropriate measures. The officials from the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan were not involved in this process and did not issue any instructions.

According to paragraph 6.2 of the regulations, the following activities are prohibited in connected rooms of multi-apartment residential buildings:

•    Establishments with more than 35 seats that cook hot food using open braziers and barbecues, accompanied by music.
•    All service enterprises operating after 22:00.
•    Household service enterprises that involve noisy processes and the use of easily flammable materials.

Additionally, according to paragraph 7.3, in multi-apartment residential buildings:

•    The use of devices and tools that exert excessive loads on partition plates and stair levels during room reconstruction is prohibited.
•    Work must be carried out with special measures to prevent damage to adjacent and upper (or lower) rooms.
•    Blocking evacuation routes, common areas (such as staircases, corridors, balconies, porches, and other rooms), as well as the vicinity of residential buildings, is strictly prohibited.  Unauthorized modifications to high-rise buildings have a detrimental impact on their seismic strength and earthquake resistance.

The mayor's statement did not specify whether the buildings would be demolished or not.  However, it was mentioned that appropriate measures would be taken against these properties in accordance with the current legislation, based on the violation of urban planning norms mentioned above.

"The aforementioned properties have violated these norms, and therefore, they will be brought into compliance with the urban planning regulations.  It should be noted that no illegal actions have been taken against entrepreneurs, but rather appropriate measures are being implemented in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan," the response from the governor's office stated.