Uzbekistan sends diplomatic note to Moscow over insult of Uzbek citizen (video)

Last month, a video circulated online showing a Russian citizen relentlessly insulting another man. In the footage, Uzbekistan was mentioned twice, implying that the victim of the verbal abuse was an Uzbek citizen. The man was also humiliated with the phrase, “You are a slave of the Russians”. The incident sparked a wide public debate. Following this, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was announced at a briefing by the MFA spokesperson, Ahror Burhonov.

According to the ministry, the official note requested that the individual featured in the controversial video be identified and that appropriate legal measures be taken against him.

“Dear compatriots, we remind you once again: citizens of Uzbekistan, regardless of where they are in the world, remain under the protection of our state. If your rights, freedoms, legitimate interests, or dignity are violated abroad, we urge you to immediately contact the competent law enforcement authorities of that country, as well as the diplomatic missions or consular offices of Uzbekistan”, said MFA spokesperson Ahror Burhonov.

It should be noted that the incident took place in the city of Khimki, Moscow region, at a residential complex called “Solnechnaya Sistema”. According to reports, the victim is an Uzbek citizen named Bakhtiyor, who had traveled to Russia to work as a taxi driver. The man who verbally abused him was of Russian nationality and, at the time of the altercation, was under the influence of alcohol. He began hurling insults at the taxi driver as the latter stopped in front of a building to drop off a passenger. The driver chose not to fall for the provocation and responded calmly. The intoxicated man initially displayed documents identifying him as a participant in Russia’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. He then brandished a knife and lunged at the driver. In the video, the driver can be heard calmly saying, “Put the knife away”.