Day: August 4, 2025

The Uzbek government has approved the contentious “Sea Breeze Uzbekistan” project at the Charvak reservoir in Tashkent region, despite vocal opposition from environmental activists and mounting public concern.

Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov signed Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 490, granting “Sea Breeze Uzbekistan” LLC a 25-year direct lease on 577 hectares of land to develop a $5 billion all-season resort complex.

Amid widespread protests, the Ministry of Ecology and the Ministry of Water Resources released back-to-back statements pledging strict government oversight throughout the project’s implementation.

The Ministry of Ecology stated that it will supervise adherence to environmental legislation, including the monitoring of air quality, resource efficiency, and public health safeguards. The ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency and public engagement, stating: “Environmental protection remains an absolute priority for the state.”

“The Ministry of Ecology will conduct continuous monitoring to identify any risks related to pollution, misuse of resources, or potential threats to citizens’ health,” the statement added.

The Ministry of Water Resources affirmed that the Charvak reservoir will remain under full state control. It assured the public that all wastewater generated by the project will be diverted to a centralized treatment facility, with no discharge permitted into the reservoir. The ministry stated that construction will take place outside protected water zones and comply fully with sanitary and hydraulic engineering standards.

Officials also noted that an inter-agency task force will conduct ongoing monitoring, with immediate responses promised in the event of any violations. Safeguarding drinking water and maintaining the reservoir’s water quality are described as “absolute priorities.”

Despite assurances, the project continues to provoke heated debate under the viral hashtag #SaveChorvoq. Government officials have pledged strict oversight, but environmental groups remain skeptical as construction proceeds.

An Uzbek citizen, Sanjar Djamilov, is facing deportation from the United States after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud, according to a U.S. court ruling reported by Florida Politics.

Djamilov, 33, who resides in St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced to time served and placed under supervised release pending deportation. He has been remanded to the custody of U.S. Marshals and is awaiting processing by the Bureau of Customs and Immigration. If deported, he will be barred from re-entering the U.S. without explicit government authorization.

The court imposed a $100 assessment on Djamilov, but waived restitution and other fees.

According to investigators, Djamilov and a Russian national, Dmitry Shushlebin, submitted 132 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections between February and March 2023. The applications were flagged for identical formatting, repeated typographical errors, sequential Social Security numbers, and recurring birth dates, raising immediate suspicion.

Authorities say the pair also submitted change-of-address forms to the U.S. Postal Service to redirect official mail to three addresses under their control. The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, following a referral from the Florida Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security.

In an April 2025 plea agreement, Djamilov admitted that Shushlebin had hired him and others to submit more than 100 fraudulent applications. While Djamilov has now been sentenced, Shushlebin has also pleaded guilty but is still awaiting sentencing. Djamilov had faced up to five years in prison for his involvement.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, 131 citizens from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan were repatriated from the U.S. on a special charter flight in May 2025. Funded by the Uzbek government, the operation reflected growing cooperation between Washington and Tashkent on migration and security issues.