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From Mahalla to Skyscraper
The redevelopment of the area for ‘Tashkent City’ began with the rapid demolition of houses and
homes in the historical mahallas (traditional neighbourhood) of O’qchi (Fletcher) and Olmazor
(Apple Orchard) of the old town, leaving the residents no choice but to hastily find new homes. The
Mahalla is a local institution of self-governance and it plays an important socio-economic role in
society in Uzbekistan. ‘It serves a cultural function: is a place for social interactions between
communities’, tied to the space and the sense of community is solid in the mahallas.
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When people
were forced to leave their mahallas, they did not only lose their homes, they lost their livelihoods,
their communities, social networks, and their memories tied to the space. Forced eviction without
consultation, adequate compensation or resettlement is widespread in Mirziyoyev’s Uzbekistan.
Tashkent City did not merely clear the space for a modern city; it eradicated an epoch from the
history of a traditional life in Uzbek mahallas that carried a long history dating back to 14
th
century.
The state owns the land and the right to use it for so-called ‘state and public needs’ but does it have
a right to eradicate the history and sweep away the public memory? For the government however, it
did not matter whether the people agreed to eviction or felt emotional attachment to the space. As
it was a top-down decision, it did not involve any public engagement or discussion of any form.
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Dilmira Matyakubova, Who Is “Tashkent City” For? Nation-Branding and Public Dialogue in Uzbekistan, Voices on Central Asia, June
2018, https://voicesoncentralasia.org/who-is-tashkent-city-for-nation-branding-and-public-dialogue-in-uzbekistan/
344
Dilmira Matyakubova, Nation Branding, Social Classes and Cultural Heritage in Uzbekistan, Cabar.asia, April 2019,
https://cabar.asia/en/nation-branding-social-classes-and-cultural-heritage-in-uzbekistan/
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Dilmira Matyakubova, Who is Tashkent City For? Nation branding and Public Dialogue in Uzbekistan, CAP Paper 205 (CAAF Fellows
Papers), June 2018, https://centralasiaprogram.org/archives/12455
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Olmazor mahalla. Photo: Umida Akhmedova
By closing the doors to its past and remodelling the capital, new Tashkenters, rising from commercial
structures to be part of the government elite, are attempting to build an image for themselves by
borrowing iconic names such as Cambridge Residence, Gardens Residence, Boulevard, etc. These are
mere imitations of locations that have a strong, historic legacies and stories attributed to their
names whereas the Boulevard in ‘Tashkent City’ represents a recent and painful narrative for its
residents.
An investor who is building a lot in Tashkent City area is a local packing company ‘Universal Packing
Masters’ under ‘Murad Buildings’ plans a 266, five meter skyscraper called ‘Nest One’ in the area,
with luxury apartments, restaurants, offices, etc.
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The company has a motto, ‘Murad Buildings
Builds Happiness!’. The owner advertises his lofty project that is building so-called ‘smart houses.’
These houses are being built in the very ground from where previously, people had been strong-
armed out their homes. For many though it is building rather a turmoil, far from happiness.
The situation of Davron Halikov, a former resident of Olmazor mahalla illustrates the social problems
of vulnerable population affected by the clamour. Found sitting on a bench in the middle of the city,
Davron is quietly thinking about how to cover his next rent payment. His current earnings at a car
dealership are not enough to make ends meet. He is renting an apartment with his wife and four
children as he lost his home during the mass demolition of his mahalla in the old town. Davron is far
from the ability to rent or buy a place in the Boulevard of ‘Tashkent City’, which would cost him
$100,000 for a one bedroom, 64-m² (square meter) unfurnished apartment.
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He was refused a
replacement dwelling on a simple technicality; he was not living in the house the moment of
demolition together with the rest of the larger family. Due to the great size of the family in one
house, he had opted to rent another place in the city. He filed a case at the city court, but has since
dropped it as he does not believe either the government or the judicial system has anything to offer
him:
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Про Nest One – About Nest One, https://nestuzbekistan.uz/ru/kurumsal; Murad Buildings and Ozguven announced the first
skyscraper’s name in Uzbekistan, UzA, August 2019, http://uza.uz/en/society/murad-buildings-and-zg-ven-announced-the-first-
skyscraper-s--29-08-2019
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Dream City, A conversation with an agent of ‘Dream City Development’, February 2020, http://dreamcity.uz
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