“You are a slave of the Russians.” MFA of Uzbekistan responds to offensive video

Uzbekistan’s citizens are under the protection of the state, regardless of where they are in the world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan made this statement following the circulation of a video that sparked wide discussion on social media.

Earlier this week, footage emerged online showing a labor migrant in Russia being humiliated and insulted. In the video, a man verbally abused the migrant, calling him “a slave of the Russians” and repeatedly mentioning Uzbekistan by name. The incident reportedly took place in the “Solnechnaya Sistema” residential complex in Khimki, Moscow Region, and the victim was assumed to be a citizen of Uzbekistan.

The highly offensive remarks suggested a conversation between a nationalist, chauvinistic Russian and a labor migrant from Uzbekistan. The aggressor also repeatedly stated that “you came here because there is nothing in Uzbekistan.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had initially refrained from commenting. On August 27, during a phone call between Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the issue was not raised, which drew criticism from QALAMPIR.UZ.

Following this criticism and the conversation with Russian officials, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry issued an official statement, reiterating that the country’s citizens remain under state protection.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan emphasizes that, in accordance with the Constitution of Uzbekistan, national laws, and generally recognized principles and norms of international law, Uzbek citizens are protected by the state, regardless of their location in the world.

If the rights, freedoms, legitimate interests, or dignity of citizens are violated abroad, they must immediately contact the competent law enforcement agencies of the host state. Citizens can also apply to diplomatic missions or consular offices of Uzbekistan for legal and consular assistance,” the statement reads.

The Ministry further underscored that protecting citizens abroad is a key pillar of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy and reflects the government’s obligations to its people.