‘We Are Not Colony!’: Lavrov Gets Into Scandal In Uzbekistan

• 25.04.2025, 13:17

The Russian minister was cut down to size.

Sherzodkhon Kudrathodja, rector of the Uzbek University of Journalism and Mass Communications, has responded to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement about the absence of an inscription in Russian at the ‘Grieving Mother’ memorial in Samarkand, the kursiv.media website reported.

Earlier, Lavrov noted during his visit to the memorial that the words dedicated to the fallen soldiers on the memorial were written in Uzbek and English. The Russian Foreign Minister asked why there was no inscription in Russian.

According to the rector, each country has the sovereign right to determine its own language policy with regard to monuments and historical sites. He emphasised that such remarks from high-ranking representatives of other states look improper.

‘It is not right that the foreign minister of another country, coming from abroad, criticises us. After all, we are not their colony!’ Kudrathodja stated.

He also added that if such topics are raised, Uzbekistan has the right to draw attention to the problems faced by its citizens in Russia, particularly violations of the rights of migrant workers.

‘Why are our migrants in Russia often discriminated against? Why is it that when their rights are violated by the authorities or the police, none of the officials react? If Mr Lavrov talks about the sanctity of the image of the mother, referring to the language of the inscription, we have the right to remind him that human rights are no less sacred,’ the rector concluded.