Top executives of “Uzbeknaftogaz” are on trial in Uzbekistan: what does “Motor Sich” have to do with it?
11 August 08:53
A trial is underway in Tashkent involving the former leadership of the state-owned “Uzbekneftegaz” and representatives of contractor companies. One aspect of the criminal case concerns the purchase of two AI engines from Enter Engineering for approximately $5 million. One of them broke down, and its repair was to be carried out by the Ukrainian company “Motor Sich.” Find out more about the case in this article
What is known about the engines
According to Gazeta.uz, following the August 7 court hearing, one of the episodes in the proceedings concerns two new AI engines that Enter Engineering sold to “Uzbekneftegaz” for approximately $5 million, or 64.7 billion soums.
According to the prosecution, the company needed one engine but purchased two. Former Enter Engineering CEO Ulugbek Usmonov stated that at the time the deal was concluded, he was allegedly no longer involved in the day-to-day management of the company.
During the hearing, it also emerged that one engine was operational, while the other was in storage. Subsequently, one of the engines malfunctioned (during the warranty period). According to Usmonov, the repairs were allegedly to be carried out by the Ukrainian company “Motor Sich.” At the same time, the Ukrainian company insisted on having the engine inspected in Ukraine, since Uzbekistan “did not have the necessary conditions.” The Uzbek side, however, wanted the inspection to be conducted on-site. This dispute is also currently being heard in court.
Background on Enter Engineering
Enter Engineering is an engineering and construction group, one of whose executives is Uzbek businessman Bakhtier Fazilov. The company operates in Uzbekistan and other countries in the region. Its ties to Russian business are evident, in particular, through its cooperation with Gazprombank: in 2020, representatives of Enter Engineering met with the leadership of the Russian state-owned bank. Fazilov himself named the Russian companies “Gazpromneft,” “Novatek,” and “Lukoil” among the group’s partners.
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According to Kun.uz, Enter Engineering was previously controlled by Gazprombank (the bank is controlled by the Russian state through entities affiliated with Gazprom. In 2024, the EU, the U.S., and the U.K. imposed sanctions against it). In 2025, Enter Engineering became a subcontractor for Russia’s Rosatom on the project for Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant.
The Essence of the Case Against the Top Management of “Uzbekneftegaz”
An Uzbek court is hearing a criminal case against the former leadership of the state-owned company “Uzbekneftegaz” and representatives of contractor companies. The charges relate to 19 incidents involving procurement, asset transfers, construction, and project financing. Among other things, the case involves the sale of a 49% stake in Jizzakh Petroleum, the transfer of 106 oil and gas fields, the payment of 10.4 billion sum in land tax, a $416 million investment in the Ark Chemical joint venture, transactions related to Uzbekistan GTL, and the engagement of contractors for drilling and the construction of compressor stations. Some of the allegations pertain to Afghanistan— specifically, a loan of approximately 332 billion soums ($24 million) to the company Eriell to participate in the development of the Tuti-Maidan gas field.
A separate set of charges relates to the drilling of a well at the Sharky Berdakh field and a contract with the Russian company ENGCS, which investigators link to Eriell.
The trial is ongoing.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry is monitoring possible contacts by a Boguslaev associate in Uzbekistan
A sanctioned associate of Boguslaev is attempting to implement a project related to “Motor Sich” in Uzbekistan
On July 24, RBC-Ukraine reported that Petro Kononenko ( ’s representative— Vyacheslav Boguslaev, CEOof “Motor Sich”— on the Russian aviation market), who remained in Russia after the start of the full-scale war, is proposing that the state-owned company “Uzbekneftegaz” create a near-exact counterpart to the Ukrainian aviation enterprise, using the “Motor Sich” brand and manufacturing expertise.
According to the publication, Kononenko is trying to convince a potential Uzbek partner that his company, “Borisfen,” allegedly has access to the Ukrainian company’s licenses and production facilities.
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According to the GUR sanctions portal, “Borysfen” is registered in the Russian Federation and is subject to sanctions by Ukraine, the EU, the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already reported that it is monitoring possible contacts involving Boguslaev’s associate in Uzbekistan.
“If the facts of possible cooperation with Russian entities are confirmed, the Embassy will immediately raise these issues with the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the relevant companies (…) The Ukrainian side emphasizes the legal, sanctions-related, commercial, and reputational risks of cooperating with sanctioned individuals and entities linked to the Russian military-industrial complex, in particular the risk of secondary sanctions,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.
As reported by [Komersant], the government is accelerating the relocation of defense plants: a special project is being launched for “Motor Sich.”
