Official response on the video with the Bukhara governor: What is the essence and purpose of the “demolition order”?

In recent days, a video that has become the focus of discussions has spread on social networks: in it, the governor (hokim) of the Bukhara region, Botir Zaripov, in the presence of a group of officials, gives an order to demolish a certain building, even "with the person inside it." This incident caused a big stir in society, so the regional administration made an official statement.

According to the administration, this video was recorded on May 22, 2024, during a working group meeting at Preschool No. 2 in Bukhara city. Botir Zaripov personally examined the progress of construction and repair work in this kindergarten. It turned out that the institution, designed for 140 places, was built in 1961 and is now in very poor condition. Necessary funds were allocated from the local budget, and a major overhaul began.

During the inspection, the governor criticized the slow pace of landscaping, the insufficient fulfillment of safety requirements, the presence of an illegally, unauthorized passage built on the adjacent territory, and the lack of proper fencing around the high-voltage transformer. In such situations, safety in public institutions is the highest priority, the governor emphasized.

In the administration’s response, it is stated that the demolition order mentioned in the video refers specifically to eliminating this illegal passage. “A passage built on the kindergarten’s territory without proper permits not only violates the law but also poses a serious threat to the safety of children and staff,” the statement said.

According to the official information, the governor’s goal was to ensure the safety of 140 children, prevent violations, and guarantee the inviolability of the preschool institution. Therefore, responsible persons were given clear instructions to speed up construction and strengthen safety measures.

The Bukhara regional administration confirms that the governor used emotional expressions to increase the responsibility of certain managers and to achieve a serious approach to work. However, the harsh phrase “to bury with the person inside” referred precisely to the illegally constructed, non-compliant passage, the official statement notes.

The administration also rejects reports that the governor ordered the demolition of private kindergartens. Only the illegally built passage was demolished, and this process was carried out within the framework of the law.

In this situation, the governor’s harsh statement was intended to increase the responsibility of certain leaders, and the main goal was to ensure the safety of children and maintain legality and order on the institution’s territory. The regional governor also instructed responsible officials to study and promptly eliminate such cases in other preschools in the region. For this purpose, a disciplinary measure was applied to the deputy governor of Bukhara city.

The administration emphasizes that "the rule of law is ensured in the region, and no illegal demolitions are carried out." This official statement was issued precisely to put an end to the various debates and interpretations that arose after the video.