“I do not play dirty, my parents did not teach me that” - Kun.uz shares detailed audio and transcript of Jakhongir Artikhodjayev’s meeting with journalists

On August 14, 2019, while Kun.uz officials were carrying out their journalistic activities at the Olmazor district administration, the former deputy khokim Abdurasul Vakhobov attacked the reporter and damaged the technical equipment.

On August 15, the khokim of Tashkent Jakhongir Artikhodjayev invited Kun.uz journalists to the city administration building.

During the meeting, which was attended by the capital’s khokim, journalists and representatives of the city administration, all statements were recorded by the website’s correspondent.

On November 16, excerpts from the audio recording were unveiled on the Internet without the knowledge of the site’s editorial board.

From the point of impartiality, Kun.uz editorial office gives a relatively complete audio recording of the meeting with the khokim to reveal a more complete picture.

Jakhongir Artikhodjayev started his speech by criticizing the journalists.

“When we were young, we used to clean the snow by ourselves! Cleaned the cemetery, worked together! We called it hashar! People had a common belief and everyone followed it. But now the situation has changed. Who is to blame for that? Those who are among us! The ones who are alien to the values.

There are a lot of problems. Where are we going? What are we doing? I cannot understand. What are we participating in?

You may write down the issue, describe and cover it as you like. No one blocks your way. But each person is accountable to God.

You do not study the case comprehensively. You forget to study the other side. Is it possible to carry a camera in the municipality? You neither have documents, nor uniforms. For example, can I go your home with a camera?  What will be your reaction then? Will you become sad?

We will settle this matter within the framework of the law. We will not involve the people, we will not publish it in the press. The activities of both sides will be investigated. We will follow what the court says. He will be penalized, if he is found guilty. If you are guilty, then you will receive punishment. We all agree on this.

I truly respect professional journalists. But I will not just let the deputy khokim be offended with unfounded materials. 

I can make it so that the mahalla will not accept you, your neighbors will be ashamed to greet you. I can make that they will mock your parents! I can do it in no time! 

I can easily announce you a gay. It is easy! We have the freedom of speech! I will put you with a gay in a taxi and take a photo. That is it! You are a gay! Technology!

But I do not play dirty. My parents did not teach me that.

I can do that. It takes no time. But I am not that kind of person. Do you follow me?

I will not let Vakhobov be offended. If you want to go through with it, we will go through with it. You may even get me fired, it does not matter. We have nothing to lose. But I am not going to let you offend my employee. If he does not perform well, he may be sacked after 3-4 months. But it will not happen now,” the capital’s khokim said then.

At the same time, we ask those, who criticize Kun.uz editorial team on social networks for the decision to close this topic, to understand the decision correctly.

It should be noted that the website’s editorial office has no hostility against the khokim. But we expect the relevant authorities to pay attention to this fact and respond accordingly for the sake of maintaining the justice.