September 02, 2025

Racial Attack Goes Viral


Racial Attack Goes Viral
A Man shouting at an Uzbek taxi driver in Khimki. Tipichnye Khimki, Telegram.

On August 24, a Russian man harassed and shouted racist remarks at an Uzbek taxi driver. A video of the incident went viral, prompting a response from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to eyewitnesses, the altercation in Khimki, northwest of Moscow's city center, began when a taxi briefly blocked the passage to a yard to allow a garbage truck to pass. A passerby wearing glasses and a cap began yelling at the driver, "Where did you come from? Are you home or where is it? Did you come here to work?" The conductor nodded. The aggressor yelled in his face, “Do not open your mouth. You are a slave, a slave of the Russians." The attacker then said, "In Uzbekistan, you didn't find anything for yourself, you come to us. You are not at your home; you came to work, [so] work!" The driver then gets back in his car and drives off.

Video of the incident went viral. A Khimki resident named Anna claimed in an online forum to have witnessed the attack and said the taxi driver hadn't done anything wrong. Internet users claimed to identify the aggressor and his address. However, his name was not revealed by the media.

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its official Telegram channel that ensuring the protection of its citizens abroad was a top priority. In response to the incident, the statement encouraged Uzbek citizens in Russia to "contact the appropriate law enforcement agencies in the host state." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that citizens abroad have the right to "receive legal or consular assistance" at Uzbekistan's consulates and embassy. The taxi driver has not contacted Uzbekistan's diplomatic authorities.

The latest xenophobic incident is not new. On June 10, Tashkent had to formally ask Moscow to treat Uzbek migrants with respect. Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that its citizens were subjected to "unauthorized inspections, disrespect, and rude treatment" in Russia.

You Might Also Like

War Memorials, Harsh Justice
  • July 24, 2025

War Memorials, Harsh Justice

Russia is increasingly using its “rehabilitation of Nazism” law to punish for minor acts near war memorials.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955