The Samarkand city criminal court, chaired by Zarifa Akhmedova, issued verdict against the director and three employees of a gas supply company in connection with an explosion that killed seven members of one family, including three small children (the Ministry of Emergency Situations initially reported six fatalities).
The explosion, which occurred on May 9, completely destroyed a three-story building inhabited by several families. Neighboring houses were also damaged.
Residents of the building were concerned about a strong gas odor and contacted the gas company 11 times. They reported that the smell appeared and then disappeared. However, the company's officials took no action.
According to the case materials, which spanned nine volumes, gasification work was performed near a private home on Spitamen street in September-October 2024 without design documentation and technical specifications being drafted.
The gas pipeline was laid under a road using hired labor and was illegally connected to the grid, in violation of regulations—without a laboratory report or protective coating. Natural gas leaked through seven holes in the pipe into the central sewer manhole and from there into a house.
The chief of Samarkand city branch of the Hududgaz Samarkand company and three of his employees were found guilty of committing a crime under clauses "a" and "b" of Part 4 of Article 116 of the Criminal Code (Improper performance of professional duties, resulting in human casualties and other serious consequences through negligence).
The court sentenced them to seven years' imprisonment and three years' disqualification from holding management positions or positions of financial responsibility in state-owned organizations.
Furthermore, the court ordered the gas supply company to pay nearly 6 billion soums to the victims of the explosion.