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In Tashkent’s Yakkasaray district, 144 trees were illegally cut down in violation of the moratorium requirements, according to Rasul Kusherbayev, Adviser to the Minister of Ecology. He reported that on the night of October 25, social media users shared footage showing trees being cut down, prompting an investigation by the Ministry of Ecology’s inspectorate. The inspection revealed that a total of 144 juniper trees had been felled along Bobur Street, starting from the intersection with Nukus Street. Witnesses said the trees were cut down at night by the district landscaping department based on the instruction of Tashkent Deputy Mayor Bakhtiyor Rakhmonov, who reportedly ordered to replace the existing trees with new ones. This action violates the presidential decree imposing a moratorium on tree cutting. Since October 25, decorative trees have been planted in the area where the junipers were removed. Preliminary estimates show the environmental damage amounts to 620.47 million soums. Documents have been prepared and submitted to the prosecutor’s office for legal action against those responsible. “Currently, the case requires fair and lawful involvement from the prosecutor’s office, as Yakkasaray’s local environmental officers were pressured and prevented from promptly documenting the violation. The Ministry of Ecology continues to monitor the case,” Kusherbayev said. He also noted that after the videos went viral, local Telegram channels were pressured to delete them under the pretext that only “dried trees” had been removed. “I don’t understand what this deputy mayor wants. Of course, new trees must be planted, but that again costs money from the state budget — the taxpayers’ money. Who benefits from cutting down healthy trees only to plant new ones? Mr. Rakhmonov, perhaps you should explain this to the public. And this isn’t the first time you’ve done something like this,” Kusherbayev said in his October 26 video address. He criticized the double standards in environmental law enforcement, noting that ordinary citizens are punished for minor violations while large-scale illegal actions by officials often go unpunished. He reminded that a similar case occurred in Kuvasoy, where the illegal relocation of 270 trees caused environmental damage worth 1.8 billion soums. “We submit all materials to the prosecutor’s office, but they take no action — they defend the authorities, claiming ‘the trees weren’t dead’ or ‘they were just moved.’ Today, some prosecutors act like the government’s lawyers. Today, the enemies of ecology are the local authorities. The worsening environmental situation in Tashkent is the fault of the city administration. They are cutting down and destroying the city,” said the minister’s adviser. Kusherbayev also stressed that although the deputy mayor violated the presidential moratorium and sparked public outrage, citizens tend to blame the president rather than local authorities. He urged accountability for those who disregard the president’s decree. “The people of Uzbekistan should know this. The president himself should know, because those around him are hiding the truth. Maybe then something will change,” he said. Following the public outcry, the Tashkent City Administration issued a statement. It said that during the landscaping works along Bobur Street, about 83 pyramidal elms and more than 62,000 ornamental shrubs were planted. However, negligence occurred in handling the previously growing trees. According to specialists, most of the 145 juniper trees previously growing in the area were diseased and gradually drying out. Although their careful relocation had been planned, responsible workers failed to follow proper procedures. “A service investigation is being conducted, and appropriate measures will be taken based on the results. The Tashkent City Administration emphasizes that all projects aim to create a safe and sustainable urban environment, and it thanks residents for their concern and environmental awareness,” the statement said. Earlier, it was reported that in Syrdarya region, illegal fishing caused environmental damage estimated at 350 million soums.
