President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during his trip to Surkhandarya province today, answered the question: “On whose side is Uzbekistan?” Presumably we are talking about the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The footage of his response was posted by his spokesman Sherzod Asadov.
“Now is a very difficult time. Big countries are now saying: “Uzbekistan, which side are you on? Stop being neutral, it is big that you take one side or the other.” They are insisting on this firmly,” he said.
“They themselves say, and their representatives also call for this, saying: “We need Uzbekistan in the Central Asia, with its population at 36 million, in three or four years it will be 40 million.” They ask: “On whose side are you?” How should one reply to this hard question?” the president asked.
“There is only one answer – I am on the only possible side, I am ready to die for my nation, people, the interests of the great Uzbekistan,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev however did not elaborate who asked Uzbekistan to pick a side.