Uzbekistan dismissed its State Assets Management Agency chief after a state land plot valued at 250 billion soums was sold for 120 billion

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev dismissed Akmalxon Ortikov, head of the State Assets Management Agency (UzSAMA), on January 26, 2026, following allegations of irregularities in a land sale by agency officials: a state-owned plot valued at 250 billion soums ($20.6 million) was placed in a closed auction and sold for 120 billion soums ($9.9 million) (bne IntelliNews, Kursiv). Mirziyoyev also ordered the State Security Service to investigate UzSAMA and Uzbekneftegaz over suspected thefts.