Foreign Ministry spokesman comments on video of the Russian insulting Uzbeks

A video circulating on social media allegedly shows a Russian citizen making chauvinistic and insulting remarks against Uzbeks. In response, Ahror Burkhanov, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, addressed the issue, urging caution in media reporting and emphasizing Uzbekistan’s commitment to protecting its citizens.  

Burkhanov first emphasized the importance of distinguishing between media narratives and diplomatic realities.  

“From time to time, noise appears in the media agenda due to certain events or statements. However, they may not accurately reflect reality, and sometimes they may greatly distort it. In this regard, we call on representatives of the media and blogosphere not to distribute unverified materials. We are always open to cooperation,” he stated.

The Foreign Ministry representative condemned the remarks made in the video, asserting that any derogatory statements against Uzbeks, regardless of nationality, are “absolutely unacceptable.” He reassured that Uzbekistan closely monitors such incidents and takes necessary diplomatic steps.  

“We are constantly monitoring the information space. As soon as this video was found on the Internet, we immediately appealed to the Russian side through diplomatic channels. In such cases, it is very important to find the original source and verify the authenticity of the material,” Burkhanov said.

Burkhanov noted that Russian authorities were quick to respond, stressing that “such insulting statements, regardless of who made them, are deeply regrettable.”  

An investigation later revealed that the video was fabricated by provocateurs attempting to incite discord.  

“According to the Russian side, the person mentioned in the video is not a citizen of the Russian Federation. Currently, the official Russian media are also publishing a number of materials on this subject,” Burkhanov said.  

He reiterated the need for responsible information-sharing, warning against the spread of unverified content that could fuel tensions.  

“Once again, we would like to remind everyone of the need to be responsible when distributing any information material. We consider it unacceptable to promote content from unverified sources.”  

According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the individual in the video is not Russian but a 41-year-old Ukrainian national, Nikolai Nikolaevich Kochmarik. The video was reportedly uploaded to a YouTube channel “controlled by Lithuanian special services.”