Shokir Sharipov, who talked to Mirolim Isajonov, a Gazeta.uz reporter, said that at the moment no real reforms have been implemented in the internal affairs system, on the contrary, the public’s dissatisfaction with the sector is growing more and more.
“After seeing the sincerity of Shavkat Mirziyoyev when he came to power, I believed that a number of reforms will be implemented in the country. In addition, there was hope that the internal affairs system would be reformed and a positive situation would emerge. Because I am well aware of the results of the reforms made in Georgia and several other former Soviet countries, how people’s attitudes towards the police have changed, and how citizens consider an internal affairs officer a friend and are happy to see him. I dreamed that such a scene would appear in Uzbekistan, and I really expected it. True, a number of things are being done in the field. But we don’t see the reforms in the literal sense, the reforms are being delayed,” he said.
Sharipov said that he, as a citizen, was dissatisfied with the system and decided to hold a picket.
“Each time I read reports about corpses of citizens coming out of DIA buildings, internal affairs officers using force, torturing or beating people, and similar cases, my internal rebellion and protest grows stronger. The saddest thing is that the Ministry’s attitude towards such incidents both surprises and angers me. I was particularly moved by the death of a 15-year-old boy, who was discharged from the DIA building in Kokand. I felt the condition of the deceased’s parents and relatives. Sometimes I couldn’t have food even. My conscience is tormented, I fought against myself. The rebellion inside me as a citizen forced me to hold a picket demanding the resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs,” Shokir Sharipov said.
According to him, after the death of the 15-year-old boy, the Minister of Internal Affairs should have appeared before the people, admitted that he could not reform the sector, apologized and resigned. But he couldn’t do that.
“I am surprised by one thing: why do the officials in Uzbekistan lack empathy – the ability to put oneself in someone’s place and feel their inner state? In fact, the best people of the society, who have strong empathy, should work in such positions,” the publicist said.
According to Shokir Sharipov, it is a very bad signal that Pulat Bobojonov is not bothered by the cases of citizens dying in DIA buildings.
“A normal official should publicly apologize and resign after the horrific death incidents in the system. If it does not leave the system, then the whole society is sick. The fact that the minister is not bothered by the fact that civilians are dying in the IIB buildings is a very bad signal. Underneath this signal lies a long chain. If the minister behaves like this, then his attitude towards the people should be the same. As long as he is treating the people like this, then the environment around him is like this. If such an environment is formed, it is a sign of problems. The corpses of citizens are coming out, but we do not see mourning on the faces of the system leadership. This is a very dangerous trend. After the people lose faith in the state, the outcome will not be good. If the society is indifferent to such situations, such events may happen to each of us tomorrow,” the blogger said.
