On Friday, October 28, an audio recording of Sardor Umurzakov, the head of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, at a meeting with the heads of ministries and departments on cutting off the gas supply to greenhouses, went viral on social networks.
Earlier, Gazeta.uz wrote that the President intervened in the situation after the businessmen of various regions, whose greenhouses were cut off without warning, gathered in the center of Tashkent, and then the gas was reconnected. At that time, a total of 268 greenhouses were disconnected from gas.
“It is the most critical period now as the products in greenhouses are ripening. In such a situation, disconnecting the greenhouses from gas... What era are we living in now?” the head of the PA said.
“Our head of state repeatedly speaks about “human dignity”. Where is human dignity? Where is the value of an entrepreneur? Where is the value of money invested? Which greenhouse worker’s problem was heard? Which businessman’s issue has been resolved?” Sardor Umurzakov said.
Greenhouse owners from the regions complained that the gas supply companies cut off the gas without warning, even though they had paid in advance. He stated that the cases of gas cut-off caused “righteous and fair objections”.
The head of the presidential administration assessed the actions of officials who cut off the gas supply to greenhouses as a “threat to state security” and noted that only 1.5% of gas was saved, and in return, exports and jobs were “killed”.
Sardor Umurzakov emphasized that the issue of export is very urgent and noted the importance of “every cent, every kilogram of product”.
“We sacrificed the most unresponsive, weakest layer. We saved 1.5% of gas. In return, you “killed” exports, jobs, bankrupted entrepreneurs who received loans, who became unable to repay their loans. What do they do now? Who will answer this? That’s why today I called the heads of the State Security Service. Is it a threat to national security or not? Who will restore exports to the state tomorrow? Who will restore income to the entrepreneur? Who will repay the loan?” the PA head said in the audio recording.
It was noted at the meeting that businessmen of Bukhara, as well as Navoi, Samarkand and Tashkent regions are suffering from gas supply interruption. Sardor Umurzakov instructed Saidlaziz Saidkarimov, the head of the Control Inspection under the Presidential Administration, Bakhodir Turabov, the first deputy of the Accounts Chamber, and Nigmatilla Yuldoshev, the Prosecutor General, to study the work of the heads of the four regional departments of the “Khududgaztaminot” enterprise.
“Why did they cut off the gas – you will check their activities. If there is even a small sign of crime, they should be prosecuted in accordance with the current legislation. You will have to inform me about types of warning, reprimand applied against them. They all should be held accountable. If one instructs against his leader, you will also hold his leader accountable. It doesn’t matter whether he is a chairman or a deputy,” Umurzakov warned.
According to him, about 10,000 residents are provided with a permanent income only in the greenhouses of these areas, and if we count with their families, it is about 50,000 people.
“50 thousand people are dissatisfied. 50,000 will fall to the level of poverty. Tomorrow, 50,000 people will appear on streets...,” he said.
The head of the Presidential Administration noted that the real theft of gas takes place at CNG filling stations.
“It is high time to prosecute all of them. All must be held accountable before the law. How long will they steal gas?” Sardor Umurzakov said.
“10,000 people are working honestly and earning for living, taking a risk, taking a loan, bringing equipment, growing products in a greenhouse. So they should suffer, they should fall into poverty, shouldn’t they?” Umurzakov continued.
The head of the Presidential Administration gave an order to study all gas stations “regardless of who owns them” and to “restore the stolen gas to the last penny”.
After that, another voice on the audio recording said that at that time the gas supply to 48 greenhouses had been restored and that work was continuing in this regard.
“You will write me a letter of guarantee today. Write down the name of each greenhouse by making a list below. Don’t be upset with me if one of them is left without gas supply,” Umurzakov warned him.
