A criminal case was initiated against the officials of the Urganch City Landscaping Department under Article 167-3 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement and robbery by means of fraud). According to the Kun.uz source, the damage to the state budget is about 1 billion soums.

According to the documents available in the editorial office, officials of the department purchased construction materials at high prices, which were supposed to be given to the needy population.

In particular, according to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated February 21, 2023 “On measures to create decent living conditions for the population in Khorezm region and further improve the infrastructure of mahallas”, construction materials worth 5 billion 117 million soums were purchased for the needy residents of Urganch. When these construction materials were checked, it was found that they were purchased at high prices for a total of 553 million 673 thousand soums and a deficit of 159 million soums was allowed.

It is also said that during the demolition of the “Avesto” complex in the city, construction materials were looted by the officials of the department.

On January 8, 2024, the head of the department, Rakhmat Omonov, was removed from his position by the decision of the Urganch city court on criminal proceedings based on the petition of the Urganch city prosecutor.

An investigation is currently underway.