Allegations surface over child abuse by police officer in Bukhara (video)

A video that circulated on social media on June 13 allegedly shows an employee of the internal affairs agency in Bukhara region torturing a minor in his office. The Children’s Ombudsman and the child’s mother have both issued statements regarding the footage.

The Children’s Ombudsman reported that a request has been submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan to conduct an investigation and provide a legal assessment of the alleged illegal actions against the child. The case is currently being reviewed by the Bukhara regional prosecutor’s office.

Following the public reaction, the child’s mother posted a statement on social media, clarifying that the video was recorded during the winter and that her son had been beaten for allegedly stealing a horse.

According to her, the child was joking with an employee he already knew when visiting his father, who works at the Internal Affairs Directorate. She stated that what appeared to be a violent encounter was, in fact, a playful interaction, and denied that any torture had occurred.

“The employee in the video is my husband’s student. He’s like a brother to my son. He was joking and pampering him. My child was not abused in any way. Don’t believe everything you see. My son visits my husband’s office because he is interested in the work,” said the child’s mother.

It is worth recalling that a similar incident occurred earlier in the city of Gulistan, Syrdarya region, where a man was seen using force against a young child. That incident was investigated by the Syrdarya Regional Department of Internal Affairs. During the inquiry, the individuals involved were identified, and official documentation was prepared in accordance with legal procedures.