The human rights organization "Interbilim-Osh" reported that last year, as part of infrastructure projects, the city administration demolished homes and seized land from 66 families, providing in return apartments in a new multi-story building on Krasnoflotskaya Street, constructed by a municipal mortgage enterprise. All families were forced to agree to the exchange and move into the new housing.
According to residents, the apartments were valued by the city administration at $950 per square meter, which resulted in a significant price difference between the old private homes and the new apartments. The city administration demands compensation for this difference by arranging a mortgage.
Violation of Property Owners' Rights
Property owners claim that their rights have been violated. "No one discussed the valuation of our homes before the demolition. Now we have to pay extra for apartments that are overpriced. We are told: 'We valued the apartments at five million soms, so the difference is 2.5 million soms. We will offer a mortgage on preferential terms for 10-15 years.' This causes our outrage. How can we pay off a mortgage? We agreed to the exchange on a 'one for one' basis, and we were given only a week to move, resulting in many belongings being left behind or thrown away," residents shared.Human rights defenders emphasize that such problems in Osh arise from the confusion caused by the actions of the previous city leadership.
"According to the law, if the city administration provides housing as compensation for demolished homes, the condition for paying the difference must be specified in the contract in advance. The demand for payment of the difference a year after the demolition does not comply with the law and common sense," the organization noted.
On March 24, dissatisfied citizens gathered at the city administration demanding that their issues be resolved and their rights to new housing be legalized, as promised by the former mayor.
Response from the City Administration
Osh's Vice Mayor Shumkarbek Paiziev told the "Azattyk" publication in an interview that this issue will be addressed at the next session of the city council."According to the provisions of the city council, mortgage housing in Osh is provided to citizens who are on the waiting list and registered in the city. There is no provision for providing housing to people whose homes were demolished. We did not require them to vacate the apartments; they can stay there. We will propose at the nearest session to transfer one of the blocks of houses on Krasnoflotskaya Street to those whose homes were demolished, as well as to theater workers. If this proposal is supported, then we will discuss issues regarding monetary compensation or a 'one for one' exchange," said the vice mayor.
Threats of Bankruptcy for the Municipal Mortgage Company
Journalist Idrys Isakov reports that the Municipal Mortgage Company (MMC) is on the brink of bankruptcy, although it was recently one of the three profitable enterprises in the city."Last summer, apartments were provided to young artists and citizens whose homes were demolished without proper documentation. The apartments were handed over for free, although the mortgage company was supposed to earn money. If the situation remains unchanged, the municipal mortgage company will go bankrupt, and if attempts are made to save the company, people will have to be evicted," he emphasized.
The Situation in Osh After Toktorbaev's Resignation
In 2025, large-scale infrastructure projects began in Osh, resulting in the city administration starting the construction of new roads, expanding old ones, creating parks, and building municipal housing. As a result of the demolition of hundreds of private homes, residents reported illegal actions by the city administration, which seized land without written notifications, did not conduct assessments, and did not resolve compensation issues through the courts. The promises of the city administration remained only verbal, and citizens' rights were not properly documented.Some residents whose land was seized received new homes on the outskirts of the city in the new development "Ene-Sai," while others moved into apartments built by the municipal company.
However, after the resignation of Jenishbek Toktorbaev, developers stated that these works were carried out with serious violations: the city administration forced construction companies to participate in projects without signing contracts and backdating documents. There is also a debt to contractors for completed work amounting to 12 billion soms, while the city water supply and the bus station were pledged to obtain a loan of 2.7 billion soms.
Currently, the Accounts Chamber is conducting an audit of the financial activities of the city administration, and unfinished projects have been transferred to the Ministry of Construction.
Photo on the main page: "Azattyk".
