The human rights organization "Interbilim-Osh" reported that last year, as part of infrastructure projects, housing for 66 families was demolished in various districts of the city. In return, the city administration offered apartments in a new building on Krasnoflotskaya Street, constructed by the municipal mortgage enterprise. All families agreed to the exchange and moved into the new housing.
However, according to residents, the city administration valued the new apartments at $950 per square meter, creating a significant price difference between the old houses and the new apartments. Now they must cover this difference by taking out a mortgage.
Residents complain about rights violations
"No one discussed the valuation of our homes with us before the demolition. Now the apartments are valued at an inflated price, and it turns out that we still have to pay extra. We are told that the difference is 2.5 million soms, and we are offered to take out a mortgage for 10-15 years. We, ordinary people, are outraged. How can we pay off this mortgage? We agreed to an exchange 'one for one', and the city administration gave us only a week to move, resulting in us leaving many things behind or selling them," residents share.Human rights defenders emphasize that such situations arise due to the disorganized policies of the previous city leadership.
"According to the law, if the city administration provides housing as compensation for seized homes, the condition of paying the difference through a mortgage must be specified in the contract in advance. Demanding payment of the difference a year after the demolition of homes is both illegal and unreasonable," the organization noted.
On March 24, dissatisfied citizens gathered at the city administration's walls, asking to resolve their issues and legalize their rights to new housing, as promised by the previous mayor.
The city administration is on the side of the law
Osh's Deputy Mayor Shumkarbek Paiziev stated in an interview with "Azattyk" that the issue will be brought to the city council's consideration."According to the rules, housing under a mortgage in Osh should only be provided to registered citizens who are on the waiting list. Our situation does not mention housing for those whose homes were demolished. We did not evict anyone; they can continue living in their apartments. At the next session, we will propose to transfer the block of houses on Krasnoflotskaya Street to those whose homes were demolished, as well as to theater workers. If the city council agrees, then we will discuss issues of compensation or exchange," the deputy mayor added.
The future of the Municipal Mortgage Company is at risk
According to journalist Idyris Isakov, the Municipal Mortgage Company of the city administration (MIK) was one of the few profitable organizations in the city, but it now faces bankruptcy."Last summer, apartments were handed over to young artists and citizens whose homes were demolished without proper documentation. These apartments were supposed to be sold so that the company could earn money. If nothing changes, the mortgage company may go bankrupt, and the eviction of people will become inevitable," Isakov notes.
Changes in Osh after Toktorbaev's resignation
It is worth noting that large-scale infrastructure projects in Osh started in 2025. The city administration began building new roads, expanding old ones, creating parks and squares, and constructing municipal housing. This led to the demolition of hundreds of private homes. Residents expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the city administration acted illegally by seizing their plots without written notification and not conducting an independent valuation.Some of those whose homes were demolished received new housing on the outskirts of the city in the "Ene-Sai" complex, while others moved into apartments built by the municipal company.
After the resignation of Jenishbek Toktorbaev, developers stated that large-scale projects were carried out with violations: the city administration forced construction companies to participate in the implementation of projects without signing contracts and conducted auctions retroactively. There is also a debt of 12 billion soms owed to contractors, and the city water supply and bus station were pledged to obtain a loan of 2.7 billion soms.
Currently, the Accounts Chamber is conducting an audit of the financial activities of the city administration, and unfinished projects have been transferred to the Ministry of Construction.
Photo on the main page: "Azattyk".
