National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The operation involved inspectors A. Kurbonov, B. Ruziyev, J. Yadgarov, F. Murodov, N. Mukhammadiev and O. Khesenov, under the leadership of the Head of the Regional Environmental Inspectorate, J. Toshev.

During the raid, inspectors spotted a group of unidentified individuals — reportedly residents of Khorezm Region — illegally cutting down saxaul trees and loading them onto a "ZIL"-brand truck. The perpetrators attempted to flee using an internal desert route. The inspection team immediately initiated pursuit in an official "JAC" vehicle.

After approximately 110 kilometers of pursuit, the truck crossed from Bukhara Region into Khorezm Region along the A-380 Guzar–Bukhara–Nukus highway. At this point, J. Toshev dropped off N. Mukhammadiev and O. Khesenov to monitor other nearby vehicles and continued the chase himself. When he managed to overtake the ZIL truck, another vehicle — an "ISUZU" truck with the license plate "90 X 780 XX", registered in Khorezm Region — blocked the road about 200 meters ahead. Several unknown individuals exited the ISUZU and violently attacked the inspection vehicle using blunt weapons such as metal pipes, rebars, and bats. They smashed the vehicle, physically assaulted J. Toshev and verbally insulted him. Faced with this violent confrontation, he was forced to leave the scene.

In addition, the offenders physically assaulted inspectors N. Mukhammadiev and O. Khesenov, inflicting multiple injuries, including a leg fracture in the case of Mukhammadiev. They then loaded the injured inspectors into the back of a truck and attempted to drive them away. However, the inspectors managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle.

At present, the Prosecutor's Office of the Tuproqqal’a District of Khorezm Region has launched an official investigation into the incident.