Russia requests clarification from Uzbekistan regarding the beating of Russian-speaking child in Tashkent school

A concerning incident at a Tashkent school, where a teacher allegedly brutally beat a 6th-grade Russian-speaking student on their first day of work, has prompted the Russian Federation to seek an explanation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova expressed alarm over a video documenting the incident.

Zakharova emphasized that such acts of violence, especially those that may involve language-based hostility, have no place in the strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Uzbekistan.

"We will keep this issue at the forefront of our attention," Zakharova said.

She urged Uzbekistan to conduct a legal assessment of the situation and to take action against the teacher responsible for the incident.

The incident occurred on September 23 at School No. 188 in Tashkent’s Chilonzor district. During a Russian language lesson, teacher R.O. reportedly reacted to a student, E.G., by pulling him by the ear, slapping him, and verbally abusing him. The video, which surfaced online, shows the teacher pinning the student to the blackboard, strangling him by the neck, and hitting him multiple times.

The student's parents have since filed a complaint with law enforcement. The child’s mother claimed that the class head, aware of the violence, failed to investigate properly and instead forced the child to apologize to the teacher in front of the entire class. The mother also reported that her child is now deeply traumatized and unwilling to return to school, appealing to the Children's Ombudsman to defend her child’s rights.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of Uzbekistan are currently investigating the situation. Investigations by the Chilonzor district DIA are ongoing.