Effect.uz editorial office investigated a land and road dispute in the Shahrikhan district of Andijan region based on received appeals, adhering to criteria of law and impartiality. During the investigation, it was revealed that the root cause of the problem stems from the irresponsibility of cadastre employees and a serious error made in mapping. The sole legal solution to this disagreement—which arose due to land sold through an auction, cadastre negligence, and an illegal construction at the head of the road—is to demolish the illegal building based on a court decision and open the 7-meter street designated for the residents.

Auction, Cadastre Error, and False Claims

This unused land plot, which is state property, was inventoried in accordance with the president's instructions and put up for open auction by the State Assets Management Agency. In a fair and transparent sale, an entrepreneur from another village legally purchased the land for 565 million soms. Cadastre representatives themselves admit that residents previously used this land illegally and temporarily, and that warnings had been given earlier that the land belonged to the state and would be sold.

However, serious carelessness was committed by cadastre employees when drawing the map—they failed to take into account the road portion used by residents. Understanding the situation correctly and for the convenience of the residents, the entrepreneur allocated a new road (street) 7 meters wide and 80 meters long at the expense of his own private property.

The True Source of the Complication: Regionalism, Illegal Construction, and Violation of Property

Looking at how the situation actually became complicated, it becomes clear that the root of the problem is connected to a complex set of factors. At the beginning of the new road allocated by the entrepreneur, a citizen illegally built a 1-room cinder block building. Because residents had grown accustomed to bypassing this illegal structure through state land for years without saying anything, today they do not want to give up that illegal area. Furthermore, the fact that the entrepreneur came from another village sparked a localist sentiment among the local population of "not tolerating outsiders," creating the grounds for just 4-5 households to systematically generate disputes.

The situation did not stop there, continuing with the infringement upon the entrepreneur's property, causing material damage by destroying walls and arches, and wrecking locks. On the day the incident occurred, severe and insulting words were used against the entrepreneur, deliberately provoking him and forcing him to defend his property. This was not just a scuffle, but a carefully orchestrated plot to make the entrepreneur appear guilty and seize his property.

At a time when the head of state recently emphasized that entrepreneurs should not be crushed, but rather supported, the occurrence of such a situation in Shahrikhan is a disregard for legislation and state policy.

Pressures and False Claims Exerted on the Entrepreneur by Local Officials

It became known that a few days before journalists arrived at the scene, local officials exerted open psychological and cultural pressure on the entrepreneur. All of these situations are reflected in clear video and audio recordings.

In particular, the chairman of the district neighborhood association gathered the residents and threatened the entrepreneur by saying that he would take 100-200 people to the regional governor and that "if I bring 100-200 people, the document proving you bought it at auction will not be worth a penny and will remain just paper." In addition, he attempted to shame and humiliate the entrepreneur in front of the congregation gathered at the mosque.

Meanwhile, the deputy head of the district Internal Affairs Department (IAD), taking advantage of the entrepreneur's alleged guilt due to the scuffle, openly pressured him by saying, "I'll take you and stick you in the temporary detention facility, and I'll blow up your problem so big that you won't even understand what hit you."

Furthermore, officials from the architecture and cadastre departments maintained a different stance in front of journalists and the district governor, while threatening the entrepreneur in front of officials by saying, "We will take the land from you by any means necessary, don't mess with the state." They even dug into the entrepreneur's other types of legal activities and land plots, showing an irresponsible attitude by stating, "Even if we find a single speck of dirt, we will hold you accountable." Representatives of the cadastre and architecture attempted to accuse the entrepreneur of "dishonesty" in front of the residents, insulting his honor and dignity.

The fact that agency representatives acted differently in public and completely differently—in violation of the law—when left alone with the entrepreneur was captured on hidden camera footage.

Slanders Being Orchestrated Against Journalists and Media Personnel

Instead of rectifying the situation and ensuring the rule of law, the chairman of the district neighborhood association, the deputy head of the district IAD, and officials from the cadastre and architecture departments threatened the entrepreneur with criminal liability and land seizure instead of assessing the situation impartially. As if this wasn't enough, concealing the fact that the interests of only 4-5 households were at stake, the district neighborhood association chairman made false and fabricated statements in front of the camera, claiming, "I gathered 150 people, the interests of 150 people are being trampled upon."

Moreover, officials are spreading slanders and provocations to arouse hatred among the residents towards journalists conducting an impartial investigation, claiming that "Journalists have been bought off and are taking the entrepreneur's side for money." Meanwhile, media personnel are carrying out their impartial activities without taking sides, relying solely on the REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, auction documents, and court decisions.

According to the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On the Protection of Journalistic Activity" and "On Mass Media," interfering with a journalist's professional activity, discrediting them, and spreading slander against them entails administrative and criminal liability. Inciting the population against journalists is an encroachment on freedom of speech.

In reality, such an approach by district officials and the artificial complication of the situation call into question the level of impartiality and responsibility in local governance. The problem will not be solved by discrediting journalists and pressuring the entrepreneur. In fact, the governor of the Shahrikhan district had expressed a clear position on this matter, emphasizing that once the illegal structure in the area designated for the new street is demolished, the road will be fully opened, thereby ending the residents' commuting problems and the resulting disputes. Since the solution to the issue is so clear and legal, it seems illogical that certain officials in the district are misleading the public and deepening the conflict instead of executing the court decision and opening the street.

Responsible agencies and law enforcement bodies must provide an impartial assessment of these ongoing events, including the damage caused to the entrepreneur's property and the pressure exerted on media representatives, and ensure the demolition of the illegal structure and the opening of the road in accordance with the court decision.

Effect.uz will continue to monitor the development of events.

Prepared by Muhammad Ali Kozokov.