Citizens who legally purchased apartments from the “Bogishamol” residential complex in the Yunusabad district of Tashkent have made an open appeal to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
According to them, the apartments were legally purchased on the basis of notarized preliminary purchase and sale agreements. However, it later became known that these apartments were pledged to a bank without the buyers' knowledge.
A criminal case was initiated regarding this situation, and the court of the first instance in Yakkayasaray recognized the citizens as victims. A verdict was issued against 9 individuals in the case. In particular, Dmitriy Bazhenov, who was pointed out as one of the main culprits in the case, was sentenced to 9 years in prison. Meanwhile, a suspended sentence with a 3-year probation period was applied to three female defendants.
However, the appellants state that their rights as bona fide buyers, the future fate of the apartments, and the legal consequences of the pledge agreements were not fully assessed. The main problem arose right after this.
Most importantly, through a civil court, the bank obtained a decision to foreclose on the mortgaged property. As a result, buyers who fell victim to the crime face the threat of losing the housing they legally paid for and purchased.
Currently, the criminal case regarding the “Credit House” affair is being reviewed on appeal in the Tashkent City Court. The issue of the citizens who suffered as victims in the case is being examined there.
Earlier, Effect.uz correspondent participated in the court hearing and reported that restrictions were imposed on disseminating these discussions in the mass media and social networks.
“The judges state that evaluating this matter does not fall within their competence,” — the appeal states.
At the same time, the issue related to the property rights of bona fide buyers to the apartments is being considered in the Tashkent City Civil Court.
The appellants are asking the President not to exert pressure on the courts or grant them privileges, but rather to ensure that the Constitution and laws apply equally to everyone and to protect their rights to housing purchased through honest labor.
“We are not asking for pressure to be put on the courts or for privileges to be granted. We only ask that the Constitution and laws be applied equally to everyone, that our right to the home we purchased through our honest labor be protected, and that justice be served,” — the appeal states.
The appellants also substantiated their demands with Article 29 of the Constitution, which states that the rights of persons suffering from offenses are protected by law, and the state ensures them the opportunity to defense and access to justice.
Recall that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had previously spoken openly about the situation related to “Credit House” and “In Fin Stroy Invest”.
The Head of State stated that these companies deceived 2,000 citizens under the pretext of selling apartments and embezzled 490 billion soms of their money.
“These things are happening in Uzbekistan. ... Construction companies “Credit House”, “In Fin Stroy Invest” deceived 2000 citizens under the pretext of selling apartments and embezzled 490 billion sums of their money. ... Jahongir Khatamov, when will your organization put an end to the activities of such organized criminal groups? If you don't do it, who will, Khatamov?” — said the President.
Today, on August 14, an important process regarding the buyers' apartments is expected to take place in the civil court. The main question for the public remains: how will the property rights of the buyers recognized as victims of the crime, who legally paid for their apartments, be protected?
