Foreign Ministry: "Citizens of Uzbekistan are under state protection anywhere in the world"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Uzbekistan stated that "Uzbek citizens are under state protection anywhere in the world."

"The Constitution of Uzbekistan, based on national laws and universally recognized principles and norms of international law, emphasizes that citizens of Uzbekistan are protected by the state, regardless of where they are in the world," the ministry said in a statement.

It is noted that if the rights, freedoms, legitimate interests, or dignity of citizens are violated abroad, they must immediately contact the competent law enforcement agencies of the host country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that citizens can contact Uzbek diplomatic missions or consular institutions for legal and consular assistance.

"We reiterate that protecting our citizens abroad is an important direction of state policy and that this responsibility is implemented based on the state's obligations to its citizens," the statement said.

Earlier, a video surfaced on social media showing a Russian man insulting a taxi driver, a migrant worker from Uzbekistan. In the video, the Russian man insulted the driver with vulgar words, saying: "You are a slave of the Russians! You came to serve us because there is nothing in Uzbekistan." The footage sparked widespread discussion on social media.