Urgent! Deputy mayor in Fergana uses force against environmental inspector (video)

In Buvayda district of Fergana region, Saidalı Khizirov, the deputy district mayor, used force against Ahrorjon Niyazov, an inspector from the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and, with the assistance of National Guard personnel, took him to the district police department. This was reported by Rasul Kusherbayev, adviser to the chairman of the National Committee, on his Telegram channel.

According to Kusherbayev, the inspector had quickly responded to a citizen complaint, arrived at the scene, identified illegal tree-cutting, stopped it, and attempted to properly document the violation.

“However, his lawful actions were met with violence. The National Committee on Ecology strongly condemns the actions of the deputy mayor and other responsible officials and will ensure that they are held legally accountable,” he said.

The regional Ecology Department also commented on the incident.

It stated that ecological oversight has been established in the area, and, in cooperation with relevant organizations, investigative and monitoring measures are ongoing.

“Based on the results of these investigations, additional final information regarding the incident will be provided,” the department said.

How can it be understood that, during this incident, a law enforcement officer merely observed while the deputy mayor used force, even physically dragging the inspector by the collar?

On 19 November this year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree titled “On measures to create a management system capable of responding promptly to the needs of the population in the fields of ecology and tourism.” The decree states that employees of the regional and district (city) branches of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change are not part of local executive authorities, operate independently, and are accountable to the committee. Despite the decree being signed only a week ago and environmental issues being a national priority, some district mayors and their deputies continue to disregard environmental inspectors, use force against them, and obstruct their work. Either they have not read the presidential decree, or they simply do not care.

It should be noted that Rasul Kusherbayev had previously mentioned a similar incident. Last year, while measures were being taken against organizations polluting the environment in the capital, unknown individuals abducted the then–first deputy minister of ecology, environmental protection, and climate change.