Feruza Muhamedjonova, Deputy Chairperson of the National Revival Democratic Party (known as Milliy Tiklanish), has criticized the recent beer festival held in Tashkent from June 27 to 29, calling it a threat to national identity and a sign of dangerous double standards in society.
In a strongly worded statement posted on her social media page, Muhamedjonova expressed concern over the growing normalization of public alcohol festivals in Uzbekistan, questioning why events promoting alcohol receive little pushback while environmental issues spark strong public reactions.
“There was a crowd in the square, mostly young people,” she wrote. “The Russian-language media actively covered the event, while Uzbek-language media and the intelligentsia remained silent.”
She emphasized the symbolic contradiction of constructing the Center for Islamic Civilization on one side of Tashkent while hosting beer festivals on the other. According to Muhamedjonova, such festivals are not isolated incidents but are becoming a recurring tradition.
“Some say it’s to make the city open and attractive to tourists,” she noted. “But does openness without assessing consequences count as progress—or is it a retreat from our values?”
Muhamedjonova also referred to historical parallels, citing the deliberate establishment of taverns during Tsarist rule in 1886 to alienate the local population.
“Back then, the intent was clear. But what about today? Who is organizing and supporting such events now, and why?”
She argued that the normalization of alcohol consumption among youth—offered at prices as low as UZS 5,000 ($0.40)—is a serious societal concern.
“Uzbekistan is not Germany, which makes over a billion euros annually from such events,” she said. “And Tashkent is not the place to set such an example for the nation.”
The party official warned of a slippery slope, saying that beer today could lead to broader normalization of alcohol culture tomorrow—through wine festivals, bars, and unregulated entertainment.
“Yes, what someone drinks is a personal matter,” she acknowledged. “But such choices should not be publicly promoted and normalized in front of society.”
Drawing attention to growing social issues such as drug abuse—citing that the youngest known drug addict in Uzbekistan is just 12 years old—Muhamedjonova urged the public to take such moral and cultural threats as seriously as environmental concerns.
“Today’s issue is not just about trees. It’s about life and the future of the youth,” she said. “If we can rally for a tree, why not for our cultural values?”
She concluded by stressing the importance of consistency in public advocacy.
“There seems to be two standards: outrage over tree cutting, but silence over alcohol festivals. We must protect our identity just as we protect nature.”
Quoting party leader Alisher Kadyrov, she echoed: “If we do not act now, the future generation will lose faith even in trees.”
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