Listen to the article
The wife of Marat Khamdamov, founder of the troubled Tashkent property developer Imarat Development, has publicly defended him as Uzbekistan’s capital police pursue a criminal case against the company on charges of fraud and abuse of authority.
Actress Shakhzoda Mukhammadova posted a statement to her Instagram Stories — later deleted — cursing those she accused of slandering her husband and causing buyers to lose their homes. “Those who slandered Marat Khayrullayevich, destroyed his reputation, changed the name of IMARAT to English and caused people to be left without a roof over their heads — may Allah punish them,” she wrote. “The people are right! The state is with us.” The post also asserted that construction on the company’s projects would continue despite current difficulties.
Criminal Case and Buyer Complaints
Tashkent’s city police department announced the criminal case in early November following a wave of complaints from buyers who paid for apartments and demanded refunds. The charges — fraud and abuse of authority — were opened after citizens approached authorities, though the police statement did not specify the number of victims, the total sum of alleged losses, or which residential complexes were the subject of complaints.
Reporting by Kun.uz had previously documented buyer grievances against Imarat Development projects, centring on construction delays and the inability to recover payments. One buyer told the outlet she signed a contract directly with Khamdamov in 2024, paying 400 million soums for an apartment she was promised by the end of October 2025. The handover never happened, and she is now seeking a full refund.
The developer had planned to build housing in the Quyichirchiq district of Tashkent region, a location that itself drew complaints from some purchasers.
Founder Blames Business Partners
Khamdamov has not stayed silent. In a separate Instagram address, he claimed the crisis stems from a falling-out with co-founders who, he said, removed him from projects including Sergeli City and Bristol City. “I was threatened with murder and the destruction of my reputation. Several times I was blocked from entering my own office,” he said, adding that information was being spread among clients visiting the office to portray him as a fraudster and damage his standing.
The competing narratives — a founder blaming partners, a spouse blaming unnamed detractors, and buyers demanding money back — leave the fate of hundreds of apartment contracts unresolved. No charges have been filed against named individuals, and the investigation remains at an early stage.