Unlicensed developer in Tashkent defrauds dozens in apartment scam

According to the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs, the founders of the LLC “Strong Cities” signed contracts with numerous individuals between 2023 and 2024, unlawfully collecting substantial amounts of money under the pretense of selling apartments in a building that lacked official approval.

The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services has provided additional information on the incident, confirming that “Strong Cities” began construction in the Chiltogon neighborhood, Usta Olim 2nd dead-end street, without the proper legal documentation.

Key violations included:

• No construction permit was obtained;
• No architectural and planning assignment was developed;
• The design and estimate documentation was not coordinated with the Tashkent City Construction Department.

An inspection by the Regional Construction Supervision Authority revealed that only land cadastre documents were in place. The company had no legal right to carry out construction or installation works. As a result, a formal cease and desist notice was issued, and the construction activities were halted.

Additionally, due to the building not meeting seismic safety standards, the developer began demolishing the structure voluntarily.

The ministry further stated that the technical documents and design estimates are now being reviewed and formalized, and the construction company claims it will resume work in accordance with the law once the documents are fully approved.

“Citizens are advised to thoroughly verify all legal documentation and construction permits when purchasing real estate,” the ministry emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Tashkent City Police Department disclosed that a citizen named T. Nodir and others established “Strong Cities” LLC on August 11, 2021, and began promoting the sale of apartments in a planned multi-storey building without obtaining the required architectural or legal approvals and without registering with the territorial inspection authority.

Moreover, contrary to legal requirements, the company did not open a dedicated escrow account in a servicing bank. Instead, throughout 2023–2024, it signed contracts with individuals and fraudulently collected large sums of money.

As a result, a criminal case has been launched under Article 168, Part 4, Clause “a” of the Criminal Code (fraud involving large-scale damage). T. Nodir has been placed in custody as a preventive measure, and investigations are ongoing.