Central Asia under renewed threat

Russian State Duma deputy and former professional boxer Nikolai Valuev has drawn public attention after publishing a video statement on social media. In the video, Valuev said Russia had pursued a “soft policy” toward former Soviet republics, arguing that this approach had failed to deliver the expected results. According to him, the time has come to take “tough measures.”

The lawmaker claimed that over the past 30 years Russia had relied on incentives and privileges in its relations with former colonial territories, but said this strategy had proven ineffective. His remarks were delivered in a distinctly threatening tone. At the same time, Valuev urged young people, particularly members of Generation Z, to focus on physical training, attend gyms, and engage in what he described as “manly sports.” He said a “time of heroes” was approaching in the near future.

Former Uzbek professional boxer Ruslan Chagaev responded to Valuev’s statements by saying that if stepping back into the ring was necessary to “put him in his place,” he would be ready to do so. In a half-joking but sharp remark, Chagaev said that after such a fight, Valuev would “come to love all of Central Asia very much.”

It is worth recalling that nearly 19 years ago, Russian boxer Nikolai Valuev and Uzbek boxer Ruslan Chagaev faced each other in the ring. After a 12-round bout, Chagaev emerged victorious.

Some social media users have suggested that the video shared by Valuev may have been generated using artificial intelligence. In the 21st century, it is widely known that modern technologies can be used to create videos with virtually any content. However, dismissing these remarks solely as a technical manipulation would be misleading.

Valuev’s statements are widely seen as a continuation of similar narratives that have previously circulated in Russia’s information space. Earlier, Russian television host Vladimir Solovyov suggested that the so-called “special military operation” launched against Ukraine could also be carried out in other regions considered to be within Russia’s “sphere of influence.”

At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Solovyov’s comments did not reflect the official position of Moscow. Later, political ideologue Alexander Dugin publicly questioned the legitimacy of independence for former Soviet states.

This time, however, the remarks did not come from a blogger or a television personality, but from an elected member of the Russian State Duma, making them more politically significant. How Russian official institutions, particularly the Foreign Ministry, will respond to these statements remains an open question.

For more details, watch the full video report on QALAMPIR.UZ’s YouTube page.