Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The demolition has begun of a 12-story building of unusual architecture in Samarkand, constructed over a period of ten years by local resident Furkat Khalilov using his own funds. Specialists deemed the structure seismically unsafe and ordered its dismantling.

Construction began in 2012. In 2022, the building drew attention from the media and bloggers, after which the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services declared that the structure failed to meet established standards and must be demolished. Nevertheless, in 2023, a café was opened inside the building.

Amid the ongoing demolition, Furkat Khalilov released an emotional video appeal to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. With tears in his eyes, he pleaded for the head of state to personally intervene and help save the building he had financed with his own earnings.

“Dear Shavkat Miromonovich, I beg you from the bottom of my heart — please intervene personally and help me. I sincerely implore you. What kind of situation is this, what is happening?” Khalilov said.

He stressed that construction was funded entirely from his personal income earned through hard labor: “This is all my work, my sweat. I never allowed myself rest or luxuries; I endured everything, hoping that one day I could complete this project.”

Khalilov also expressed hope for a fair review of his appeal: “First and foremost, I put my trust in Allah. And then in you, as the president, who is a shadow of Allah. Please help, I beg you. Let them investigate and study the matter thoroughly.”

According to the entrepreneur, he had repeatedly appealed to local authorities, but to no avail. “We are patient and resilient, but our documents are not being taken into consideration. Wherever I turn — it is useless. The Samarkand district khokimiyat has become the plaintiff. Why? I asked so many times: ‘Come, look, help!’”

Earlier, Khalilov claimed to have invested about three million dollars into the project.

The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services stated that in the Juyisoy mahalla of Samarkand district, Khalilov had erected a 12-story hotel-type building, partially dismantling his own home and without obtaining the necessary urban planning permits.

An inspection revealed numerous violations. The construction was carried out without a decree from the district khokim or authorization from the district construction department. There was no architectural and planning assignment, no engineering-geological surveys, and no approved design and cost estimate documentation. The project had not been reviewed by the urban planning council, and the general plan for the hotel complex had not been formalized.

Furthermore, no passports or certificates confirming the compliance of building materials with safety standards were provided, nor were records of inspections of concealed works. Specialists concluded that the building failed to meet seismic safety requirements.

Despite lacking the required initial permits, partial project documentation was later prepared by Konstant Proyekt LLC. A private expert organization, Triumf Proyekt LLC, issued a conclusion based on an incomplete set of documents, without primary approvals.

The district construction department and territorial inspection repeatedly issued orders to halt construction, but Khalilov continued building. Back in 2016, the licensed company SVP Maskan LLC had conducted a technical survey of the building and recommended strengthening beams and reinforced concrete frames. However, these works were never carried out, and no positive expert opinion was obtained.

On May 6, 2022, specialists from the Uzogirsanoatloyiha Institute, together with the territorial inspection, conducted an examination of the structure. They concluded that the facility did not meet KMK and SNIP requirements and found cracks in several columns. The building was deemed in need of demolition.

Given the wide public resonance, the issue was reviewed by the Republican Commission. On July 6, 2022, the Toyloq Interdistrict Civil Court ordered Khalilov to demolish the illegally constructed 12-story building at his own expense. The court’s decision was submitted for enforcement.