In mass media, there was a news titled “In Samarkand, 220 properties will be expropriated for the pilgrimage center”.
The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Samarkand region conducted investigations regarding this information.
According to the presidential decree, plans involve reconstructing the “Imam Maturidi” memorial complex located at Samarkand’s “Chokardiza” cemetery, restoring the graves of great scholars around the complex, beautifying the area, and improving the service infrastructure to establish a major pilgrimage center.
In this connection, it has been noted that 217 residential buildings owned by citizens will be demolished for the purpose of expanding the complex area.
Moreover, according to paragraph 4 of the President’s decision on June 19, 2021, projects for construction, demolition, and beautification in immovable cultural heritage properties, especially protected historical-cultural areas, territories listed in the World Heritage List, and their buffered zones, must be coordinated with the Agency in a mandatory manner. Therein, projects regarding territories and objects listed in the World Heritage List are to be implemented in agreement with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre through the National Commission of UNESCO affairs in Uzbekistan.
The Scientific-Expert Council under the Agency has thoroughly reviewed this matter and provided a final conclusion. According to the council's conclusion, the decree No. 6165 issued by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on February 9, 2021, has been accepted for information and execution.
We remind that based on the Republic of Uzbekistan’s decision No. 781 “On the procedure for expropriation of land plots for public needs in exchange for compensation” dated June 29, 2022, the housing of the population whose homes are being demolished will be valued at market rate, and compensation payments are planned to be made accordingly.
