Man Sentenced for Protesting Gas Station Closure and Energy Sector Failures in Tashkent
Man Sentenced to 15 Days of Administrative Detention After Gas Station Protest Goes Viral
A man in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, found himself at the center of a social media storm after he protested the sudden closure of a gas station and was subsequently sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention. The incident took place on December 23, 2024, at a gas station owned by “Morotrans” LLC in the Bektemir district.
The man, identified as G. Dustov, had been waiting in line for six hours to refuel when the station unexpectedly shut down. In a video that quickly went viral, Dustov expressed his frustration with energy authorities, displayed his worn-out shoes, and criticized the gas station staff for their actions.
According to court documents, Dustov’s outburst led to disturbances and verbal insults towards the station employees. Despite expressing regret for his behavior during the court hearing and promising not to repeat it, he was found guilty of petty hooliganism under Article 183 of the Administrative Code.
On December 26, Judge D.A. Dadakhanova of the Bektemir District Criminal Court handed down a sentence of 15 days of administrative detention to Dustov. In addition to the jail term, he was also ordered to pay for the expenses related to his detention at a special holding facility run by the Tashkent Police Department.
The total cost of his detention amounts to 843,750 UZS, calculated as 15% of the base calculation unit for each day of detention. Dustov’s case serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of public outbursts and the importance of expressing dissatisfaction through peaceful means.
