Recently, the increasing presence of Chinese-language banners and advertisements in Tashkent has sparked discussions on social media. In the past few days, rumors have surfaced that Chinese investors are purchasing large plots of land in the capital. On March 6, the Cadastral Agency released a statement calling these claims baseless.
According to the agency, Article 17 of the Land Code stipulates that foreign individuals, foreign legal entities, stateless persons, and enterprises with foreign investments can only acquire land on a lease basis.
"Do not panic, thinking, ‘What if we lease the land and they privatize it? What happens then?’ There is no reason for concern. According to the Law on the Privatization of Non-Agricultural Land, foreign citizens, stateless persons, foreign legal entities, enterprises with foreign investments, as well as government agencies, institutions, enterprises, and self-governing bodies of citizens, are not eligible for land privatization. In other words, land cannot be privatized by foreign entities," the statement reads.
The agency has urged the public not to worry about agricultural land being privatized by foreigners.
"Even citizens of Uzbekistan themselves cannot privatize agricultural land.
"Therefore, claims that our lands are being handed over to foreign nationals are baseless and have been made without proper verification," the statement continues.
The Cadastral Agency also reminded the public that those spreading such misinformation could be held accountable under Article 202 (Part 2) of the Administrative Responsibility Code and Article 244 (Part 6) of the Criminal Code.
"In this regard, we urge our citizens not to fall for deception and ask social media users to refrain from spreading false and unfounded information," the agency stated.
Giving away land is like giving away life
Economist Otabek Bakirov has responded to the agency’s attempts to reassure the public by stating, "Giving away land is like giving away life." While dismissing various speculations, he emphasized that concerns regarding the allocation of land to foreigners must be properly understood.
"Indeed, the Land Code specifies that foreign individuals, foreign legal entities, stateless persons, and enterprises with foreign investments can only acquire land on a lease basis.
"However, in an increasingly complex global environment with new emerging challenges, this provision alone is not sufficient. Social sentiment will continue to be uneasy.
