Capital's Beth Menachem synagogue will not be demolished, as developer withdraws claim

The building of the Tashkent`s Beth Menachem synagogue, erected in 1973, will not be demolished, as the developer Absolute Business Trade withdrew its lawsuit. This was reported by the Committee on Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.

The developer Absolute Business Trade had received a 6-hectare plot of land in the Yakkasaray district of Tashkent for permanent use for the construction of a multi-storey building. A permit was issued by the decision of ex-mayor of Tashkent Rakhmonbek Usmanov.

The historic building of the Beth Menachem synagogue is located on this site. The Jewish community refused to demolish the historic building, in response, the developer sued the community to pay compensation for housing and evict the community from the synagogue building.

As a result of the trial, the plaintiff Absolute Business Trade withdrew its claim against the Jewish community.

Arkady Isakharov, Chairman of the Tashkent community of Bukharian Jews and a member of the Council for Religious Affairs welcomed the court's decision.

"We are relieved to learn that all claims against a religious organization regarding land ownership have been cancelled and the plaintiff, a private firm called Absolute Business Trade, has withdrawn its claim. This case was the first, and I hope it will be the last, case when an application was submitted to the courts against a religious organization that officially conducts its activities on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan," the Committee on Religious Affairs quoted Arkady Isakharov as saying.