A high-profile investigation into the violent beating of two school students by a teacher in Tashkent has raised serious concerns about media freedom in Uzbekistan and has also highlighted the growing pressure on journalists who report on sensitive issues involving state institutions.

Teacher Accused of Beating Ninth-Grade Students

On May 19, 2026, an informatics teacher at School No. 275 in Tashkent’s Mirzo-Ulugbek district allegedly violently assaulted two ninth-grade students during a lesson. Video footage that circulated on social media appeared to show the teacher striking a student, kneeing him in the face, and throwing him across classroom desks. According to media reports, one student suffered injuries serious enough to require hospitalization. Initially, authorities opened a criminal case under Article 105 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code (intentional infliction of moderate bodily harm), confirming that a violent incident had occurred. However, within days, the official narrative shifted dramatically.

Criminal Case Closed, Teacher Declared to Have Acted Lawfully

On May 26, senior officials announced that the criminal case had been dropped. According to the findings of an official review, the teacher had allegedly acted “within the law” while protecting the educational process and maintaining classroom discipline. Authorities argued that the students had disrupted the lesson, failed to follow instructions, and shown disrespect toward the teacher. Officials also indicated that measures would be taken against the parents for alleged shortcomings in the children’s upbringing.

The decision was accompanied by strong public statements from law-enforcement officials. During a public meeting at the school, senior Interior Ministry representatives emphasized that teachers enjoy state protection and warned that disrespect toward educators would not go unpunished.

First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Rustam Juraev emphasized that teachers are backed by the “army,” “people in uniform,” and personally by the President of the country. Tashkent City Police Chief Ravshan Sultankhodjaev, in turn, stated that, from now on, “raising a hand against a teacher and insulting a teacher will not go unpunished.” These statements were made despite video footage of the incident showing the teacher using physical force against the students.

New Evidence Raises Further Questions

According to a Gazeta.uz article published on June 8, 2026 which was removed from its website the following day, one of the boys was diagnosed with injuries classified as moderate in severity. Family members alleged that school officials sought to downplay the incident and refused to provide them with surveillance camera footage from the school. Journalists reported that one child later suffered a loss of speech associated with severe psychological trauma while undergoing medical treatment. The family has challenged official claims that the incident was merely a disciplinary matter.  Relatives also questioned why authorities focused heavily on the children’s behavior while paying comparatively little attention to the actions of the teacher.

The brother of one of the injured students who was interviewed for the article that was later removed, described what he said had been the teacher’s negligence and frequent absence throughout the school year, as well as the lack of actual lessons. According to him, the teacher would sometimes come to class and simply sit there while the students were left to themselves.

“He used to boast that he had a lot of experience with girls when he was younger (the teacher is 24 years old — editor’s note), was quick to get into fights, and showed various videos during class. Over the course of a year, we did not learn anything worthwhile.”

These allegations have not been independently verified, but they raise questions about why official inquiries concentrated primarily on the conduct of the students rather than the performance and conduct of school staff.

Investigation Removed From Media Websites, Journalist under Pressure

The controversy deepened after the publication of a detailed investigative report by the independent news outlet Gazeta.uz, became inaccessible on the outlet’s website. The article reportedly examined inconsistencies in the official account and documented concerns raised by the victims’ families. Screenshots circulated online show that the webpage now returns a “Page Not Found” error. Similar reports concerning the case were reportedly removed from other media outlets, including Anhor.uz.

Journalist Ilyos Safarov spoke with Gazeta.uz reporter Miralim Isajonov, the author of the investigation, who confirmed he was summoned to a local police department where he was held for four hours during what authorities described as a “preventive conversation.” No public explanation has been provided regarding the legal basis for questioning the journalist.

Another video report about the incident by journalist Mo’tabar Nurmuhammedova was also deleted from the Zamon.uz website. According to Safarov, “Several other journalists from television channels and websites have contacted me, claiming that the reports they prepared were likewise removed,” Safarov wrote on his Facebook profile.

The Uzbek authorities should conduct a full and impartial investigation into the incident and hold those responsible for acts of violence to account. The Uzbek government should also uphold its international commitments to freedom of speech and desist from harassing and pressuring journalist and media outlets for their legitimate work.

 

This article incorporates information from reporting originally prepared by Hook.report