Reports recently emerged about the death of journalist Viktor Vladimirovich Mikhailov. Mikhailov, 68, died on December 25, 2024, at a clinic in Zangiata, where he was being treated for pneumonia.
Numerous obituaries published in Uzbek media mentioned his role as the founder and editor-in-chief of the Novosti Uzbekistana publication, as well as his work for various pharmaceutical companies. However, an analysis of publicly available government records shows that Viktor Mikhailov was involved not only in journalism and the pharmaceutical sector. According to official registries, he was a co-owner of several companies, including an enterprise with an authorized capital exceeding 740 billion Uzbek soums, in which he held a 75 percent stake.
The smallest active company associated with Viktor Mikhailov is the advertising firm MEDIA-BIZNES, with an authorized capital of 9.8 million soums (about $755 at the exchange rate at the time of publication). According to information on the publication’s website, MEDIA-BIZNES is the publisher of Novosti Uzbekistana.
A much larger company is MPC INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS END CONSULTANTS-TASHKENT, whose authorized capital amounts to approximately 569 million soums (more than $43,000), while Viktor Mikhailov owns a 45 percent stake. The company is engaged in the leasing and management of non-residential properties.
Even this company appears relatively small compared to MOLD TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION RESOURSES, which specializes in the manufacture of equipment for metal forming.
According to government registry data, the company’s authorized capital exceeds 740 billion soums (more than $57 million at the Central Bank exchange rate at the time of publication). Viktor Mikhailov owned 75 percent of the company, corresponding to a stake with a nominal value of nearly $43 million. In addition, company records list him as the enterprise’s director.
These findings came as a surprise to me. I knew Viktor Mikhailov personally through my journalistic work and met him at various events. He did not appear to be someone associated with assets of such magnitude. That is why the information found in government registries regarding his participation in a company with authorized capital exceeding 740 billion soums deserves particular attention.
I visited the website of MOLD TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION RESOURSES (pressform.uz), which describes the company as a U.S.-Uzbek joint venture, also known as JV MTSR. The company presents itself as one of the largest manufacturers of aluminum alloy molds in Uzbekistan.
According to information published on its website, the enterprise was established in 2001. Its partners reportedly include major producers of beverages, juices, vegetable oils, shampoos, confectionery products, and pharmaceutical goods.
In a photograph published on the company’s website, Viktor Vladimirovich Mikhailov can be seen standing in the center of the front row.
The information uncovered raises questions. In the public sphere, Viktor Mikhailov was known primarily as a journalist and editor-in-chief of Novosti Uzbekistana. This aspect of his biography was extensively reflected in the obituaries and articles published after his death.
At the same time, publicly available government registries show his involvement in companies, including an enterprise with authorized capital measured in tens of millions of dollars. Yet in the sources available to me, I was unable to find detailed explanations as to how a journalist came to own such a significant stake in a large manufacturing company.
Another point of interest is that over the years Mikhailov was reportedly associated with organizations dealing with security issues and threat assessment. While checking one of the links posted on his Facebook page, I discovered that it led to a casino website.
It remains an open question to what extent Viktor Mikhailov’s public biography reflected his business activities. Official documents indicate his participation in companies with very substantial authorized capital. At the same time, publicly available sources contain little detailed information about his role in these business ventures or the origins of such significant corporate assets.
The questions raised by the examination of corporate records remain unanswered.
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