“Obedience is not in the DNA of Central Asian youth”: Bekmurodov responds to Mikheev (video)

Earlier, Russian propagandist Sergey Mikheev said on Vladimir Solovyov’s program Evening with Vladimir Solovyov on the Russia 1 TV channel that Russia had supported Central Asian states for many years and that, therefore, these countries should “know their place.” Bobur Bekmurodov, chairman of the nationwide Yuksalish Movement and a deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, responded to Mikheev’s remarks, stating that submission is not embedded in the DNA of today’s Central Asian youth.

“Unfortunately, I would like to address those so-called ‘experts’ who still sit in television studios and try to live by the categories of the last century. Please listen carefully and remember this reality well.

First, Central Asia and the Caucasus are no longer what they used to be. This is now an open, independent, and economically strong entity. Billions of dollars in investment are being directed here by China, Turkey, the European Union, and Russia, among others. Above all, these investments are being made in stability.

Second, the countries of our region have already resolved issues related to borders and other disputed projects. We have reached common agreements on most matters and are now promoting a constructive, unified position. The region has never been as cohesive as it is today, which is why any attempt to provoke instability here is simply a waste of time,” Bekmurodov said.

He also emphasized Central Asia’s demographic potential, noting that submission is absent from the DNA of the region’s youth today.

“Third, look at the demographics. Central Asia has a population of 80 million, nearly 60 percent of whom are young people under the age of 35. These are active young people who grew up in the spirit of independence. Submission is not in their DNA, and they cannot be re-educated through such television programs. They value freedom, their own path, and the course chosen by independent states,” Bekmurodov said.

In addition, he stated that such rhetoric has a negative impact on Russian business interests.

“Fourth, verbal aggression primarily harms Russian business. Across the entire region, Russian companies hold leading positions in many sectors, from transport to energy. Such statements first and foremost place these companies in an extremely uncomfortable position before government agencies, partners, and citizens of these countries. In essence, you are undermining your own business. You need to understand this: they are trying to build relations, while you are destroying them.

It is time to stop this rhetoric. Actions must align with the spirit of alliance. Let us follow the path of genuine partnership that our leaders, above all the leadership of the Russian Federation, have been advocating. Learn to engage in dialogue on an equal footing,” Bobur Bekmurodov said.

It should be recalled that earlier one of the founders of the “Russian World” ideology and pro-Kremlin propagandist Alexander Dugin stated that the independence of former Soviet republics, including Uzbekistan, was unacceptable.

In addition, on January 10, Russian television host and another Kremlin-aligned propagandist, Vladimir Solovyov, said during a live broadcast that the “special military operation” launched in Ukraine should also be carried out in “other territories within Russia’s sphere of influence,” including Central Asian countries and Armenia.

According to Solovyov, Russia must clearly and firmly state which territories belong to it. He also claimed that, for this purpose, it may be necessary to launch a “special military operation” similar to the one conducted in Ukraine.

Some time later, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on Solovyov’s remarks about the need for Russia to launch a “special military operation” in Central Asia and Armenia.

Zakharova stated that the journalist’s views do not reflect the official position of Moscow, adding that he expressed them solely on his own platform. She also noted that official statements are made by authorized officials, not by analysts speaking from their couches.

In Uzbekistan, Bobur Bekmurodov, chairman of the nationwide Yuksalish Movement and a deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, also responded to Solovyov’s remarks, describing them as “nonsense” and calling the journalist himself a “copy.”

“We spit on Solovyov’s statements, and we spit on his imperialist ambitions as well. We advise him to learn a Uzbek expression that conveys the following meaning in a literal translation: go and mind your own business,” Bekmurodov said.