Uzbek Citizen Detained in Israel After Video Mocking Civilians During Rocket Alert

An Uzbek citizen working in Israel has been detained after a video circulated online showing him mocking civilians rushing to bomb shelters during a rocket alert. The video, widely shared on social media, was first posted in a Facebook group for people from Bukhara. It shows people running toward shelters after warning sirens sounded, while the man filming the scene can be heard laughing and making derogatory remarks. In the recording, he says, “Look how the rats are running,” while filming civilians attempting to reach safety during what appears to be a missile warning. The footage quickly sparked outrage among Israeli social media users, many of whom described the comments as offensive and inappropriate given that civilians were seeking protection from a potential attack. Posts circulating within the Bukharan community claimed that Israeli singer Avi Hen later recognized the individual on the street and alerted authorities. Police reportedly arrived shortly afterward and detained the man for questioning. Officials said the detention was carried out on suspicion of incitement and disturbing public order. An investigation into the case is ongoing. Meanwhile, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Israel released an official statement addressing the incident. According to the embassy, the episode occurred on February 28, when an Uzbek citizen identified as N.H. uploaded a video to TikTok during a rocket attack while air-raid sirens were sounding. The embassy said the video contained inappropriate language and was later widely shared across Israeli social media platforms. The statement added that an Israeli citizen identified as A.H. subsequently contacted the police about the video. After learning about the situation, the embassy’s consular department contacted the Uzbek citizen and held a conversation with him. Embassy representatives also communicated with the Israeli citizen who filed the complaint. According to the embassy, the Uzbek national is currently safe, and the situation remains under the supervision of the consular department.

Tajikistan Condemns Fatal Stabbing of Boy in Russia Citing Ethnic Hatred

Tajikistan has condemned what it called an “ethnic hatred” attack in Russia after a 10-year-old boy from a Tajik family was stabbed to death at a school near Moscow, in a rare public rebuke aimed at a key partner for labor migration and security ties. The killing happened on December 16 in the village of Gorki-2 in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee, which said a minor attacked people at an educational institution, killing one child and injuring a school security guard. A video of the attack circulated on Russian social media after the incident. According to reporting by Asia-Plus, footage published by the Telegram channel Mash shows the teenage assailant approaching a group of students while holding a knife and asking them about their nationality. The video then shows a school security guard attempting to intervene before the attacker sprays him with pepper spray and stabs him. The assailant subsequently turns the knife on the children, fatally wounding the 10-year-old boy. A statement released by Tajikistan’s interior ministry said it feared the case could “serve as a pretext for incitement and provocation by certain radical nationalist groups to commit similar crimes.” Tajikistan’s response also drew attention after the foreign ministry said the attack was “motivated by ethnic hatred.” Dushanbe subsequently summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the attack, handing him a missive “demanding that Russia conduct an immediate, objective, and impartial investigation into this tragic incident.” The condemnation is particularly notable as Tajikistan rarely issues public criticism of Russia, which remains its main destination for migrant labor and a key security partner. According to Russian media, the attacker, who has admitted their guilt, subscribed to neo-Nazi channels and had sent his classmates a racist manifesto entitled "My Rage," in which he expressed hostility toward Jews, Muslims, anti-fascists, and liberals, a few days before the incident. Tajik migrants form one of the largest foreign labor communities in Russia and across Central Asia. Millions of Tajik citizens work abroad each year, most of them in Russia, sending remittances that are a critical source of income for families at home. According to the World Bank, remittances account for roughly half of Tajikistan’s gross domestic product in some years, making labor migration a cornerstone of the country’s economy. Many Tajik migrants work in construction, services, and transport, often in precarious conditions and with limited legal protections. The killing comes as Central Asian migrants in Russia face growing pressure to enlist in the war in Ukraine, with coercion through detention, deportation threats, and promises of legal status having been reported. The killing has also renewed scrutiny of rising xenophobia in Russia, particularly toward migrants from Central Asia. The Times of Central Asia has previously reported an increase in hate speech, harassment, and violent attacks targeting migrants, especially following major security incidents. Human Rights Watch has warned that Central Asian migrants in Russia face growing discrimination, arbitrary police checks, and racially motivated abuse, trends that have intensified in recent...