In Tashkent, Law Enforcement Detained Participants of a Cosplay Festival. Video

Yesterday in Tashkent, a strange and alarming incident occurred that sparked widespread concern among the city’s residents. During a cosplay festival held at one of the capital’s shopping malls, law enforcement officers detained participants, including minors. The reasons for the detention remain unclear, but the incident itself has raised many questions and caused confusion. Is cosplay banned in our country? Although the teenagers have since been released, the situation has left a lingering unease. We hope the authorities will provide an explanation for what happened.

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.