On 28 July 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan issued a Decree (No. 559) entitled “On measures to improve the architectural appearance and improvement of the central part of Tashkent, as well as creation of appropriate conditions for the population and visitors to the capital” (1). This decree approved the creation of an international business centre called ‘Tashkent City’, and set up a state enterprise called ‘The Directorate’ to oversee the development (1).

According to the documentary research by Dilmira Matyakubova (2018), the area chosen for the project has been a target for redevelopment since the earthquake in 1966, when some mahallas were ruined (6). She claims that after independence, an effort was made to rewrite the story of Tashkent, removing Soviet influences (ibid.) Photos held by the author show that in late December 2017, the iconic Soviet-era building Dom Kino (Cinema House) was demolished (7, 8) despite signed petitions from local architects and cinematographers citing the importance of the building (12, 12.2).

Kristian Lasslett (2019) describes the Tashkent City project as a USD 1.3 billion mega-project (2). The development was to occupy 80 hectares of land (3.1 square miles) (3) on Tashkent’s main streets: Navoi and Islam Karimov Avenues (formerly Uzbekistanskaya), which also link Olmazor and Furkat Streets (4). According to Lasslett, the development was to contain residential complexes, retail, business and financial districts, Hilton and Radisson branded hotels, a Congress Centre, and a large recreational park boasting a 7D cinema, planetarium and wax museum (2). In order to accomplish the redevelopment, traditional mahallas and heritage buildings were demolished, for instance, traditional mahallas in the Olmazor (Apple Orchard) and O’qchi (Fletcher) neighbourhoods (5).

Matyakubova (2018) argues that the process of the demolition of these neighbourhoods and properties involved serious regulatory violations (6). Article 4 of the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers (No. 97) entitled “Regulations on the Procedure for Compensation of Damages to Citizens and Legal Entities due to Seizure of Land for State or Public Needs” (29 May 2006) states that the Hokimiyat must notify property owners in writing no less than six months before demolition begins on their property (6, 9). However, Cabinet of Ministers Decree No. 559 (28 July 2017) set the requirement that buildings were to be acquired within a month (6, 1). Further, residents allege in their interviews that, in some instances, district administration visited mahallas and informed residents that they had ten days to vacate their homes (6). Some residents allege that they remained in the area despite the dust, and despite being cut off from electricity and gas (6).

Lasslett (2019) noted that key beneficiaries of the project are companies tied to the Akfa-Artel group, a group founded by Jahongir Artikhodjayev who was Mayor of Tashkent (2018-2023) at the time of the report's publication (2). Lasslett observes: “Companies tied to the Akfa-Artel group invested in three of the eight lots making up the US $1.3 billion Tashkent City property development, using a layer of offshore companies that made determination of beneficial ownership impossible. The group is also tied to the general contractor appointed to oversee four of the eight lots ... In response to queries submitted by the author, the Mayor’s office states that Jahongir ArtiHodjayev does not have a private interest in Tashkent City” (ibid.)