We have laws, comrade Mironov – Uzbek deputy responds to Russian counterpart

Earlier, Sergey Mironov, chairman of Russia’s "Just Russia – For Truth" (Spravedlivaya Rossiya – za pravdu, SRZP) party, criticized Uzbekistan's warning that its citizens should not be recruited for military service in Russia. He questioned why migrants cannot defend the country that "supports" them, adding that Russia does not need such migrants. In response, Bobur Bekmurodov, chairman of the national movement "Yuksalish" and deputy of the Oliy Majlis, addressed the Russian deputy, stating that "such aggressive rhetoric will only harm bilateral relations."

"First of all, we will never accept our compatriots being involved in the wars of another country. It is both natural and just for our consulate to protect our citizens from actions deemed illegal in Uzbekistan. Secondly, our compatriots contribute to Russia’s economy through their work. It is ignorant and foolish to compare social benefits with an act that endangers human life," Bekmurodov wrote on his Telegram page.

The deputy also referenced Article 7 of the Uzbekistan-Russia treaty "On Allied Relations," which states that "each party shall take effective measures to guarantee the legal rights and interests of its citizens and legal entities in the territory of the other party."

"We have laws that are enforced, and the same should apply to you. This kind of aggressive rhetoric will only damage our bilateral relations," Bekmurodov added.

Earlier, Alisher Kadyrov, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and chairman of the "National Revival" Democratic Party, also responded to Mironov's comments, suggesting that Mironov and his relatives should be the ones to defend Russia.

As a reminder, the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Kazan has repeatedly warned Uzbek citizens against participating in foreign military conflicts. According to Uzbekistan’s citizenship law, any citizen who serves in a foreign military risks losing their Uzbek citizenship following a decree from the President of Uzbekistan.

Additionally, under Article 154 of the Uzbek Criminal Code, illegal participation in armed conflicts or military operations abroad is considered a crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.