Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry urges Russia to act against nationalist who insulted Uzbek man

According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Akhror Burkhanov, the diplomatic note calls on Russia to identify the man featured in a widely circulated video and take appropriate legal measures against him.

The video, which surfaced in August, shows a Russian man verbally abusing an Uzbek migrant, saying: “You are a slave, a slave of Russians.” At that time, the ministry refrained from addressing the specific incident and instead issued a general statement, emphasizing that Uzbek citizens are under the protection of the state wherever they are in the world.

On 31 August, Kun.uz drew attention to the issue in its weekly digest, noting that the nationalist’s insults had gone unanswered. The outlet pointed out that the Foreign Ministry had not pushed for punishment nor applied last year’s law that allows Uzbekistan to bar such individuals from entering the country.

“If the situation were reversed – if a Russian citizen were insulted in the same way in Tashkent – many can easily imagine what the reaction from Moscow would be,” Kun.uz wrote.

On 2 September, Foreign Ministry press secretary Akhror Burkhanov addressed the matter at the end of his briefing on the ministry’s August activities.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs closely monitors information circulating on social networks and in the media, and cooperates with the relevant authorities of foreign states to ensure that necessary measures are taken regarding identified cases.

In particular, with regard to the case that sparked broad discussion in August, investigative measures are under way. In this context, an official note was sent to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting the identification of the person in the video and the adoption of legal measures against him.

Dear compatriots, let us once again remind you that citizens of Uzbekistan are under the protection of our state regardless of where they are in the world. If your rights, freedoms, legal interests, or dignity are violated abroad, please immediately contact the competent law enforcement authorities of that country, as well as Uzbekistan’s diplomatic missions or consular offices,” the ministry’s statement read.