It all started when someone saw a crowd of brightly dressed teenagers and decided it wasn’t just fun but… LGBT propaganda. Seeing a threat in this harmless gathering, the person called the police. As a result, officers arrived on the scene, took the teenagers away, and brought them to the local station for questioning.

The reason for this treatment of the children turned out to be not only the large crowd gathered in the mall but also the «dangerous» plastic weapons that were part of their costumes—toy knives, axes, and swords. After the checks, all the children were released as nothing suspicious or illegal was found. But the situation left a lingering sense of unease.

Law Enforcement’s Reaction There are many questions for the police: why was there even a need to respond to such an absurd call? There is no law in Uzbekistan regarding LGBT, and checking children for orientation is something utterly incomprehensible and absurd.

How exactly was this check conducted, and on what grounds were the children detained? Is it really enough to simply make a ridiculous claim to trigger law enforcement intervention? Such actions raise concerns and serious questions about the competence of the police.

Another point—will this «vigilant citizen» who alerted the authorities be held accountable for a false alarm? After all, this is now a false report. Let the public see this hero who dislikes anime.

Worst of all, by loudly declaring that they were looking for LGBT, the police have now put these children at risk of bullying at school and in society since our community often doesn’t bother to find out the truth.

And finally, the plastic weapons that so scared the police—are they not concerned that pen-knives are openly sold in the country? Maybe it’s better to deal with that instead of targeting cosplayers.

Why Is This a Problem? First, treating youth subcultures as something suspicious and dangerous can seriously harm the development of youth initiatives and creative hobbies. Cosplay is a form of self-expression, a way for young people to be creative, find friends with shared interests, and immerse themselves in beloved culture. In a world where youth increasingly retreat into the virtual world, such gatherings are a chance for them to be part of a real community.

Second, incidents like this can create an atmosphere of fear and mistrust between young people and law enforcement. Detaining teenagers who were simply having fun and posed no threat might make them less likely to trust the police and authorities. Instead of feeling protected, they may start to see law enforcement as enemies, which will ultimately lead to even greater alienation.

Third, such actions undermine trust in the justice system and public order. Detaining children based on an unfounded call is an abuse of power and a disregard for real issues. It diverts law enforcement resources from actual threats and gives the impression that the system works against its citizens rather than for their protection.

Today’s incident should serve as a lesson for everyone. Cosplay is not a threat; it is an expression of creativity and freedom. Law enforcement must remember that their job is to protect, not to intimidate. Let’s respect the interests of the youth, support their desire for self-expression, and create a safe and friendly environment for all.

The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article.

Сообщение Tashkent Law Enforcement Scared of Cosplay: Why Detain Kids Dressed in Costumes? появились сначала на Vaib.uz.

This story was shared by blogger and journalist Nikita Makarenko, as well as journalist and public figure, and founder of the «Mushukkent» project, Alexandra Ivanyuzhenko.

What is Cosplay?

Cosplay (from the English word cosplay – costume play) is a form of self-expression where people dress up as characters from movies, cartoons, anime, comics, or video games. This hobby unites thousands of people worldwide, allowing them to immerse themselves in their favorite culture and become part of the magical world of heroes.

For many teenagers, cosplay is not just a hobby but a way to find friends, develop their creative abilities, and feel part of a larger community. This activity fosters creativity, teaching them to sew costumes, apply makeup, work with various materials, and participate in theatrical performances.

Detention at the Festival: Law Enforcement’s Questionable Actions

The situation in Tashkent is baffling. Festival participants, including children, were detained, taken to a police station, and released only after some time. Why was it necessary to detain teenagers dressed as their favorite characters? Is cosplay really a reason for law enforcement intervention?

There is information that officers from the anti-terrorism department were involved in the detention. Such actions not only frighten the children but also raise concerns among their parents and everyone who supports the development of cosplay culture in Uzbekistan.

This incident is reminiscent of what happened a few years ago in Dagestan, where authorities shut down an anime festival, deeming it a «foreign subculture.» This led to a wave of outrage and even had negative consequences for the region in terms of freedom of expression.

In contrast, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in recent years in supporting youth interests like cosplay and ensuring their freedom is not restricted. Incidents like this cast doubt on these achievements and raise fears that we could see a rollback toward repressive measures.

Why It’s Important to Support Cosplay

Cosplay is not just a hobby; it’s a cultural phenomenon that brings together people of different ages and interests. Supporting such events promotes the development of creative abilities in young people, helps them find like-minded individuals, and realize their potential. Restricting freedom of expression, on the other hand, can lead to alienation and disappointment among those who see cosplay as a way of self-realization.

We hope that law enforcement authorities will comment on the incident and clarify the reasons for their actions. It’s important that such incidents do not happen again and that young people feel free to express themselves creatively. The Ministry of Internal Affairs should apologize to the children and their parents for this misunderstanding.

The text has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please refer to the Russian version of the article.

Сообщение In Tashkent, Law Enforcement Detained Participants of a Cosplay Festival. Video появились сначала на Vaib.uz.