The showing of a movie depicting the conflict in Ukraine was canceled at the Tashkent film festival

The screening of "Sharqiy front (Eastern Front)," a film centered on the Ukrainian war, was called off during the Artdocfest Asia festival in Tashkent. Russian filmmaker Vitaly Mansky revealed this development on his Facebook page.

Initially, "Sharqiy front (Eastern Front)" screening was halted, followed by a complete ban on all screenings, as confirmed by the filmmaker. He pointed out that these actions were taken under orders from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Culture.

According to the Ministry of Culture's press service, the screenings were halted due to the organizers' failure to obtain the necessary permit as mandated by the law.

The Ministry's statement outlined that under the current regulations, organizers must seek approval from the Cinematography Agency for both local and foreign film screenings within the country. This process usually takes up to 10 working days.

The statement emphasized the importance of adhering to strict requirements and conditions during public screenings. Failure to comply could result in the revocation of the screening permit.

Furthermore, the Ministry clarified that despite the necessity of obtaining permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for mass events in Uzbekistan, the organizers of Artdocfest Asia proceeded without proper authorization. This contravened the legislation, leading to administrative penalties.

The Ministry clarified that while it lacks the authority to halt public events, including festivals and film screenings, it is obligated to enforce compliance with relevant laws and regulations.