Mirziyoyev condemns terrorist act in Moscow and expresses condolences to Putin

On December 19, a telephone conversation took place between the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The discussion, initiated by the Uzbek side, was reported by the press services of both nations.

"President Mirziyoyev expressed heartfelt condolences regarding the deaths of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of the Chemical, Radiation, and Biological Defense Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov. Both were victims of a terrorist act in Moscow. Uzbekistan strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing its commitment to combating terrorism through close cooperation with Russia's special services," the report states. 

The leaders also addressed pressing issues on their bilateral and regional agendas. They reaffirmed the importance of enhancing collaboration between their countries' security services to address threats to safety and stability.

The Kremlin's press release highlighted the continued intention of both nations to work together to combat terrorism, while Uzbekistan's presidential press service emphasized the need for strengthened partnerships on multilateral platforms.

The conversation followed the tragic events of December 17, when Lieutenant General Kirillov was killed in an explosion in Moscow. Russian authorities detained Akhmad Kurbanov, a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen, on charges of "illegal production of explosives" in connection with the case. The Basmanny District Court of Moscow has remanded Kurbanov in custody until February 17, 2025, as investigations continue. Uzbek authorities confirmed their cooperation with Russian counterparts, promptly providing requested information about the suspect.