The head of the Uzbek community in Moscow was sent to pre-trial detention center

Usman Baratov is accused of inciting hatred towards members of the SVO as part of an organized group.

On January 19, 2024, the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow sent the head of the Interregional Uzbek Community “Vatandosh” Usman Baratov, accused under paragraph “c” of Part 2 of Art. 282 of the Criminal Code (incitement to hatred or enmity, as well as humiliation of human dignity on the basis of belonging to a social group, committed by an organized group).

The reason for the persecution was Baratov’s post on the Odnoklassniki social network dated December 17, 2023, in which he commented on the news about rising egg prices in Russia with a picture of chickens and the text: “Screw you with butter, not eggs! Bring back the roosters from the front." Users of Z-channels complained about the publication. Their attention to Baratov’s page was drawn even earlier by a post in which he complained that Malysheva’s program used the word “Russian” instead of the word “Russian” and wrote that Uzbeks living in Russia need adaptation and integration, not assimilation. The publication gave rise to anti-migrant comments. The post about eggs was regarded as insulting to the participants in the “special operation.” The corresponding complaint was brought to the attention of the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, and he ordered to initiate a criminal case, which was done on January 18.

In our opinion, Baratov’s statement does not contain any characteristics of the SVO participants themselves, much less aggressive calls addressed to them. In addition, from our point of view, participants in armed hostilities in Ukraine do not belong to vulnerable groups that require protection from manifestations of hatred: we believe that the vague concept of a social group should be excluded from anti-extremist norms. It is also unclear on what basis the charge of inciting hatred by a group of people was brought, given that the post was made on a page belonging to Baratov, however, it was precisely this qualification that created the possibility of criminal prosecution under Art. 282 of the Criminal Code, and not administrative under Art. 20.3.1 Code of Administrative Offences.

Sources

• The head of the Uzbek community, Usman Baratov, was sent to a pre-trial detention center because of a picture in Odnoklassniki // OVD-Info. 2024. January 19.
• The head of the Uzbek diaspora in Russia will have to answer for the “roosters” // Echo FM. 2024. January 18.