The recent summoning of the Uzbek ambassador to Russia over remarks made by the rector of the University of Journalism in Tashkent highlights the escalating tensions surrounding language politics in the region. Sherzod Qudratxoja’s statement labeling Uzbek citizens who speak Russian but not Uzbek as “occupiers or idiots” has sparked a diplomatic outcry from Russia, branding the comments as “extremely offensive and absolutely unacceptable.”
This incident underscores the complex dynamics of language identity and national sovereignty, particularly in post-Soviet states, Gareth Stamp, Eurasian Star’s editor-in-chief, wrote on Facebook. With Russian not holding official status in Uzbekistan but being widely spoken, the issue transcends mere linguistic preference, touching on cultural heritage and geopolitical allegiances. Moreover, against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, where language has been a contentious issue, such remarks risk exacerbating existing tensions and could potentially strain diplomatic relations and economic relations between Russia and Uzbekistan. As language continues to intersect with politics and identity, navigating these sensitivities will be crucial for fostering stability and cooperation in the region.
“In an aside note from my own experiences in the region, countries such as Kazakhstan invest heavily in Kazakh language training – with subsidised courses available in the UK! Uzbekistan still does not provide significant resources for non-Uzbeks to learn the language,” Gareth Stamp added.
It is important to remember that Russian was a lingua franca of the Soviet Union, and millions of people from western parts of the USSR were evacuated to Uzbekistan during the Second World War, and many more moved there to help during the country’s industrialization and after the Tashkent earthquake.
Qudratxoja’s statement is also economically counterproductive, as over the past two years, more than 200,000 Russian-speaking individuals — mostly Uzbek citizens returning from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine — moved back to Uzbekistan bringing billions of dollars in investment and qualified human resources. Such statements may put them off, to say nothing about political consequences for Uzbekistan.
