Kadyrov condemns Soviet sentiment, urges Russia to drop “dreamers”

Following controversial remarks by Anton Kobyakov, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Uzbek lawmaker Alisher Kadyrov has strongly criticized what he described as nostalgic and dangerous rhetoric about the former Soviet Union. Kadyrov, a deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and leader of the “National Revival” Democratic Party faction, made his comments via his official Telegram channel.

Kobyakov had recently claimed that the USSR still exists “legally somewhere,” arguing that the constitutional process for its dissolution was never properly completed. In response, Kadyrov declared that Russia needs to “get rid of dreamers” like Kobyakov as soon as possible.

Kadyrov backed his statement with a reference to Article 2 of USSR Law No. 1409-I, a law adopted in 1990 that provided the legal framework for the withdrawal of republics from the Soviet Union. He emphasized that Uzbekistan’s decision to secede was made in full accordance with this law.

“The Uzbek people, in accordance with Article 2 of USSR Law No. 1409-I adopted in 1990, decided to secede from the USSR,” he wrote. “Anyone is free to debate this all they want—but the decision is correct and irreversible.”

Doubling down on his criticism, Kadyrov remarked: “Russia must get rid of its colds and dreamers as soon as possible. This disease is taking hold and is showing increasingly serious consequences.”

In the same post, Kadyrov also criticized Ukraine for relying on Western support amid its ongoing war with Russia.

“Ukraine made a mistake by depending on the selfish, fragmented, and weak West. But those who ignore Central Asia and the unity of the Turkic world are also making a grave mistake,” he said.

Despite his criticism of Kobyakov and Russian political narratives surrounding the USSR, Kadyrov expressed support for President Putin’s view that those who genuinely identify with the “Russian world” should be able to live peacefully and happily within Russia’s vast territory.

The debate around Soviet symbolism in Uzbekistan has gained momentum in recent weeks. Bobur Bekmurodov, a fellow deputy and chairman of the "Yuksalish" nationwide movement, earlier stated that raising the USSR flag in Uzbekistan should be seen as promoting foreign communist ideology, which contradicts the country’s current constitutional system.

The discussion intensified after a video emerged on social media showing young people marching with the Uzbek flag being confronted by individuals carrying Soviet flags in Tashkent. Kadyrov condemned such actions, asserting that “the whole world knows who is responsible for provocations in the former Soviet territories and who is financing them.”

He also rejected the statements made by a woman seen in the video, calling her remarks “slanderous.”