Russian senator warns Uzbekistan about Ukraine's fate

Andrey Klimov, Deputy Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament), responded to a statement made by Alisher Kadyrov, Deputy Speaker of Uzbekistan's Parliament, who had urged Russia to "mind its internal affairs." In an interview with Lenta.ru, Klimov reminded Uzbekistan of Ukraine's current situation as a warning.

"I oppose reacting so sharply to any incident immediately. The actions of a person who calls himself a teacher are not just criminal but go beyond that. The words of the vice-speaker are surprising," Klimov remarked.

The senator suggested that many people want to incite conflict between Central Asia and Russia.

"There was one country that behaved this way for a long time. Now it finds itself in a very difficult situation," Klimov said, alluding to Ukraine.

Klimov further explained that incidents like these create fertile ground for people with divisive agendas.

"I doubt the so-called teacher in question was thinking about geopolitical issues. More likely, domestic factors played a role. So, let's see how this issue can be resolved through official channels," Klimov added.

What Happened?

On September 23, during a Russian language lesson in the 6th grade at General Education School No. 188 in the Chilonzor district, a teacher, R.O., became involved in an incident with a student, E.G., which escalated into controversy.

The teacher grabbed the student by the ear, pulled him out of his seat, and slapped him across the face. A video of the incident circulated on social media, sparking widespread debate.

In response, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called on Uzbekistan to legally assess the incident and take appropriate action against the teacher involved in the alleged child abuse.

Several Uzbek officials, including Alisher Kadyrov, Sherzodkhan Qudrathoja (Rector of the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan), and Otabek Hasanov (Head of the Republican Spirituality and Enlightenment Center), responded to Zakharova’s request, urging Russia not to interfere in Uzbekistan's internal affairs and allowing the country to handle the matter within its legal framework.

Following these responses, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a formal proposal to Uzbekistan’s Ambassador in Moscow, Botyrjon Asadov, emphasizing the importance of adhering to civil and diplomatic etiquette.

On September 26, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. During their conversation, both sides reiterated the importance of respecting each other's internal affairs.

Earlier this year, in February, Sherzodkhan Qudrathoja sparked controversy by calling people who live in a country without speaking its language "invaders or idiots" during an interview. Following these remarks, Yevgeny Primakov, the head of Rossotrudnichestvo, announced that all ties with Qudrathoja might be severed and that he and his relatives could be banned from entering Russia.