Uzbekistan calls on Russia to investigate viral migrant abuse incident “You are a slave of Russians” / VIDEO

Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry has lodged a formal note with Russia calling for action against a man who was filmed insulting an Uzbek migrant.

The video, which circulated online in August, shows a Russian citizen calling the migrant a “slave of the Russians,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Uzbek media.

At the time, Tashkent limited itself to a general statement that its citizens were under state protection abroad, without directly mentioning the incident.

On September 2, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Akhror Burkhanov said a formal note had been sent to Moscow, asking Russian authorities to identify the man and take legal action against him.

“The ministry consistently monitors reports in the media and on social networks and cooperates with the relevant authorities of foreign states to take measures on identified incidents,” Burkhanov said.

“In this case, which caused wide public concern in August, an investigation is underway. A note has been sent to the Russian foreign ministry requesting that the man in the video be identified and appropriate measures applied.”

The ministry also reiterated its message to Uzbek nationals abroad: “Citizens of Uzbekistan remain under the protection of the state wherever they are. If your rights, freedoms or lawful interests are violated overseas, please contact the law enforcement bodies of that country as well as Uzbekistan’s diplomatic or consular missions.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev