️ Construction of a globally renowned Ritz-Carlton hotel is underway on land adjacent to the National Park in Tashkent, with a foreign company serving as the developer. Previously, it was reported that 12 trees were felled at the site, causing environmental damage estimated at 351 million Uzbek soums. At recent public hearings, a representative of the investor stated that 10 trees were transplanted, while 2 apricot trees were cut down without authorization by a contracting organization.

️ During public hearings organized by the construction company on March 4, a Kun.uz correspondent requested clarification on the situation. According to the investor, a contract was signed with a certain LLC (the investor did not specify its name) for work on the construction site, but the contractor independently felled and transplanted trees. The company announced it would file a lawsuit against them.

️ "The LLC we hired cut down 2 apricot trees and attempted to conceal it. We had an agreement that they would notify the security service, safety department, and us in advance if tree transplantation or any project-related work was needed. We will sue this LLC. All costs incurred due to their unlawful actions, including imposed fines, will be recovered from the company. We came to Uzbekistan not to destroy or harm nature. We held negotiations with the Ecology Department—they will allocate us a plot in the Dendropark area. Instead of the two felled trees, we will plant 200. The Ecology Department, based on the project situation, assessed the damage at 351 million soums," said Kamal Khudaguluyev, administrative manager of SP LLC PD Estates.

️ The Kun.uz correspondent asked the investor why disrespect for Uzbekistan's legislation was allowed and how Azerbaijan would react if an Uzbek investor arbitrarily transplanted trees in Baku's Central Park. The investor's representative responded: "Suppose you want to renovate an apartment. You hired workers, paid them, and left. If those workers flood the neighbors, are you guilty? Tell me, why should you be guilty? You hired them, right? So why are we guilty? We admit we hired the wrong company. But we did not give them consent to cut trees without permission. We may not know the legislation. That's why we hire companies. We learned about the situation ourselves thanks to ecologists."

️ According to a representative of the Ecology Committee, 100 trees were transplanted in this area in 2025 with the committee's permission. However, official permission for transplantation work in 2026 has not yet been issued. After the unauthorized transplantation of 10 trees, 25 trees remain on the site, which also require relocation. Currently, authorized agencies are conducting an investigation into this matter. Although the investor stated an intention to sue the unknown LLC, the question of the client's liability under the law remains open.

️ For reference: SP LLC PD Estates is a company of the Azerbaijani holding Pasha Holding. It is building a five-star hotel under the Ritz-Carlton brand worth 200 million US dollars. It is recalled that Kun.uz previously reported that ecologists identified the illegal felling of 12 valuable trees at the Ritz-Carlton construction site in Tashkent, which is a direct violation of the indefinite moratorium on cutting valuable tree species. Environmental damage was then estimated at 351 million soums, and inspection materials were sent to the General Prosecutor's Office.

Source: kun.uz