Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TASHKENT464
2006-03-09 05:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
GOU'S EMINENT DOMAIN PLACES AMCITS OUT ON THE
how-toVZCZCXRO2993 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHNT #0464 0680514 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 090514Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5308 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY PRIORITY 7687 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 1793 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 2317 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY 2210
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000464
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON UZ
SUBJECT: GOU'S EMINENT DOMAIN PLACES AMCITS OUT ON THE
STREET
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000464
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON UZ
SUBJECT: GOU'S EMINENT DOMAIN PLACES AMCITS OUT ON THE
STREET
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) On March 2, the Amcit owners of a local business,
American Optical, were served an eviction notice by the
Tashkent City Hokimiyat giving them two days to vacate the
premises before the building was demolished. The one-story
building was shared by two other shops, both of which had
closed down after receiving similar eviction notices. The
Amcit owners told Poloff they learned through the Hokimiyat
that demolition of this and several other buildings in the
area was part of the Hokim's master plan to change the city.
The Tashkent City Hokim, Abdukahhor Tukhtaev, had agreed to
meet with building owners on the evening of March 2.
However, he did not appear at the meeting.
2. (SBU) On March 3, the Amcit owners packed up their store
and left. Demolition of their building, together with
several other stores, restaurants, and apartments, has
commenced. Poloff observed a well-orchestrated effort by
scores of construction workers, heavy equipment, and dozens
of MVD officers providing security. The Amcits told Poloff
they believe they will be compensated for the loss of their
store only in the form of a small apartment in the suburbs.
3. (SBU) On February 14, Tukhtaev paid a visit to American
Optical and gave them two hours to remove their exterior sign
with the store's name on it. The owners told Poloff the
problem occurred because their business was located on
President Karimov's route to work. Following the visit, the
owners changed the name of the store to Tashkent Optical.
4. (SBU) Comment: The purchase of the store was financed by
several Korean Baptist churches in the U.S.; however,
American Optical had no formal ties to any religious group
and had operated in Tashkent for the last seven years without
any problems from the GOU. However, this incident serves as
yet another example of the precarious environment in which
small and medium sized business must operate in Uzbekistan.
PURNELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON UZ
SUBJECT: GOU'S EMINENT DOMAIN PLACES AMCITS OUT ON THE
STREET
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) On March 2, the Amcit owners of a local business,
American Optical, were served an eviction notice by the
Tashkent City Hokimiyat giving them two days to vacate the
premises before the building was demolished. The one-story
building was shared by two other shops, both of which had
closed down after receiving similar eviction notices. The
Amcit owners told Poloff they learned through the Hokimiyat
that demolition of this and several other buildings in the
area was part of the Hokim's master plan to change the city.
The Tashkent City Hokim, Abdukahhor Tukhtaev, had agreed to
meet with building owners on the evening of March 2.
However, he did not appear at the meeting.
2. (SBU) On March 3, the Amcit owners packed up their store
and left. Demolition of their building, together with
several other stores, restaurants, and apartments, has
commenced. Poloff observed a well-orchestrated effort by
scores of construction workers, heavy equipment, and dozens
of MVD officers providing security. The Amcits told Poloff
they believe they will be compensated for the loss of their
store only in the form of a small apartment in the suburbs.
3. (SBU) On February 14, Tukhtaev paid a visit to American
Optical and gave them two hours to remove their exterior sign
with the store's name on it. The owners told Poloff the
problem occurred because their business was located on
President Karimov's route to work. Following the visit, the
owners changed the name of the store to Tashkent Optical.
4. (SBU) Comment: The purchase of the store was financed by
several Korean Baptist churches in the U.S.; however,
American Optical had no formal ties to any religious group
and had operated in Tashkent for the last seven years without
any problems from the GOU. However, this incident serves as
yet another example of the precarious environment in which
small and medium sized business must operate in Uzbekistan.
PURNELL