Don’t Blame Uzbeks for Everything!

World

Concerns have arisen about increased pressure on Uzbek migrants in Russia following the killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Armed Forces’ Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops, with Uzbek citizen Ahmad Qurbonov claiming responsibility for the act.

Don’t Blame Uzbeks for Everything!
According to Leonid Kalashnikov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, such unrest in Russia "benefits only Ukraine and populists." Kalashnikov stated that those who ordered the assassination of the general had two goals: not only to kill the Russian Armed Forces general but also to incite unrest against migrants in the country.

"Therefore, there’s no need to blame Uzbeks for everything. If a Russian commits a crime somewhere, does it mean everything in our country is bad? Of course not, that’s a primitive view. There’s no point in linking relations between states to one individual Uzbek. Our task is to ensure that all migrants who come here to work are not left unsupervised or stranded on the streets," Kalashnikov said.

The first deputy chairman of the CIS Affairs Committee, Konstantin Zatulin, said in an interview that the wave of xenophobia against migrants in Russia benefits only Ukraine. He also called for lifting the unilateral moratorium on the death penalty.

"I have repeatedly proposed introducing the death penalty for individuals who commit acts of terrorism in kindergartens, schools, universities, and against military personnel defending the homeland. Such cases should be reviewed by a jury. General Kirillov, as one of the Defense Ministry's leaders, was fulfilling his duty. Regardless of the perpetrators' nationality, they deserve the death penalty," the deputy emphasized.

"The secondary goal of the terrorist act is to create a wave of anti-migrant sentiment and provoke conflict between Russia and Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and others. Attempts to blame Uzbekistan for the crime are, in essence, accusations of complicity. Does anyone truly believe President Mirziyoyev aided General Kirillov's killers? There’s no evidence for that. However, there is clear evidence that those calling for vengeance against Uzbeks or Tajiks are consciously or unconsciously fulfilling someone else’s orders," Zatulin said.

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