Former deputy Olim Suleymanov detained in Tashkent region

A criminal case has been initiated against former deputy and entrepreneur Olim Suleymanov in the Tashkent region, the press service of the regional Department of Internal Affairs reports.

According to the department, the 61-year-old Suleymanov is accused of intentionally inflicting minor bodily harm. He was repeatedly summoned for questioning, however, he evaded appearing. On October 14, he was forcibly brought to law enforcement, and the investigation continued. The Department of Internal Affairs reported that any attempts to exert pressure on the investigation via the internet are punishable.

Olim Suleymanov was a deputy, involved in construction and road projects. He first came into public attention in 2016 when he posted a video address to Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He said that an employee of the Department for Combating Money Laundering and Currency Offenses demanded a bribe of $30 thousand from him.

He also stated that after refusing to give money, his companies Dormon biznes qurilish and Optima’s bank accounts were frozen. Later, the entrepreneur was accused of slander, fraud, and giving false testimony. In 2017, he was sentenced to three years and a month in prison. However, in December of the same year, they were fully acquitted in the appellate court.

Later, Suleimanov again became the center of attention as a video blogger and activist. His YouTube channel, which has over 300,000 subscribers, regularly receives appeals demanding the return of 4.5 billion soums. This money, according to him, is intended for road repairs in the Tashkent region, especially in the Bostanlyk district.

The entrepreneur claims that the Committee for Roads owed him a large sum, however, he was unable to recover the funds even through the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement. He also stated that he has been unsuccessfully appealing to various authorities — the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Senate, the regional administration, and personally to Zoyir Mirzayev — for three years.

The businessman also appealed to Senate Chairperson Tanzila Narbayeva, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, and heads of road departments, demanding intervention and investigation. Before his arrest, he slandered several officials in case “something happens to him”.

He also publicly accused them of inaction and demanded the court’s decision to pay him the debt. In his publications, Suleimanov sharply criticized the regional authorities for their inaction, although the court issued a decision. Officials have only commented on the ex-official’s arrest yet.

On October 15, Suleimanov again addressed Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He reported that he had fulfilled all his obligations after concluding a contract with the regional “Avtoyul” enterprise. He also recalled that the court determined that this enterprise owed him 4.5 billion soums, which was confirmed by an official court decision.

The court decision entered into legal force, and the writ of execution was sent to the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement. However, for more than three years, the court decision has not been enforced. Instead of payment, false statements were sent to me for my legal demands, and pressure is being exerted with the support of local officials, — Suleymanov said.

Then the ex-deputy made the following demands:

• compulsory execution of a court decision and payment of 4.5 billion soums;
• compensation for material and moral damage in the amount of 200 million soums;
• restoration to the position in the Migration Agency in accordance with the court decision;
• bringing to justice officials who, instead of executing the court, organized false statements and pressure;
• taking measures against officials who deliberately ignore the president’s instructions and do not execute court decisions.

Responsible authorities have not yet commented on the appeal.