Brawl in nightclub

A violent brawl broke out at a nightclub in Tashkent, leading to serious injuries. According to the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the capital, the incident occurred on March 16 at 2:30 AM. A 1995-born man, who was a customer at a restaurant in the Yakkasaroy district, got into a dispute with an acquaintance born in 1985. When a third man, born in 1990, attempted to break up the altercation, one of the fighters struck him, causing bodily harm.

As a result, the injured man was rushed to the hospital with a diagnosis of "brain injury, laceration of the right cheek, and alcohol poisoning."

The Investigation Department of the Yakkasaroy district Internal Affairs Department, under the Federal Migration Service, has initiated a criminal case under Article 277 of the Criminal Code (Hooliganism). The investigation is ongoing, with authorities pledging to make a legal decision based on its findings.

"An appropriate legal decision will be made following the investigation," the Internal Affairs Directorate stated.

Social media users familiar with the injured man have reported that he underwent hours of surgery. 

"The young man suffered a skull fracture, brain swelling, brain hemorrhage, a linear fracture of the left temporal bone, and a fracture of the right parietal bone. A five-hour emergency operation was performed, after which he was placed in an induced coma. His life is in danger!" one user posted online.

Reports indicate that the injured man is the father of two young children. Those close to him are calling for the responsible parties to be held accountable for their actions.

This is not the first violent incident to occur in nightclubs. A similar altercation took place in Fergana just days earlier.

On February 21, a brawl erupted at the Verona computer game club, located on Oftob Street in Fergana. The assailant, a young man identified as Otabek Vallomov, reportedly beat up club employees. Vallomov, who claimed to be the son of a local businessman, threatened to buy the club if necessary.

According to the Fergana Regional Department of Internal Affairs, Otabek Bakhtiyorjon oglu Vallomov, born in 1998 and residing in Fergana, disregarded societal rules, causing a disturbance at the club. When the manager attempted to intervene, Vallomov and his group of friends began attacking him, resulting in bodily injuries. Vallomov continued the assault, injuring an employee who tried to stop the fight.

A criminal case has been initiated against Vallomov and five accomplices under Article 104 (Intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm) and Article 277 (Hooliganism) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Vallomov has been placed under arrest as a precautionary measure.

In a related incident, on August 8, 2018, Jamshid Kenjaev, an international-class freestyle wrestling athlete, was fatally stabbed during a confrontation with security guards at the Aurum-898 nightclub in Tashkent. The attack caused a public outcry.

In the ensuing trial, Shodali Kilichov was convicted of intentional murder under Article 97, Part 2 of the Criminal Code, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Other defendants, Saidazim Kamoliddinov, Alijon Khamroev, and Jahongir Yorkulov, were each sentenced to five years in prison. The court also ordered them to pay 300 million sums in compensation for moral damage to Kenjaev's family. The athlete’s father, during the trial, called for life sentences for those responsible for his son's death.

"They surrounded the man who was lying down, not allowing anyone to help him. This can be seen in the video. He lay there for 45-48 minutes, almost an hour," Kenjaev’s father said in a statement.

In another related case, Murod Khonturaev, a successful athlete, was also involved in a violent incident at a Tashkent restaurant on June 9, 2018. He was stabbed, hospitalized, and underwent surgery. Despite the severity of the attack, Khonturaev chose not to file a lawsuit, instead asking for a reduced sentence for the defendant.

Violent incidents like these have become increasingly common in nightclubs and restaurants operating at night. In 2024, a total of 61,481 criminal cases were reviewed by courts in Uzbekistan, with the highest number of cases reported in Tashkent. Of these, 3,223 individuals were imprisoned under Article 277 of the Criminal Code (Hooliganism), which addresses deliberate disregard for societal conduct, including beatings and property damage. It remains unclear how many of those imprisoned were involved in violent incidents at nightclubs or restaurants.