GM Damas driver Gayrat Dustov has become an unlikely hero of social networks during the New Year holidays in Uzbekistan, his video footage where he criticized (with occasional swearing) a gas filling station where he reportedly stood in a queue for 3 days and was unable to buy gasoline overshadowed all other stories. Against the backdrop of restrictions on the operation of gas stations, the man is seen showing his trainers with worn soles became a hero.
The news of his being handed a 15-day arrest on Petty hooliganism charge caused a wave of indignation among both ordinary Internet users and influential experts. Activists began raising funds to support Dustov, who, as stated in his video, drives a rented car to feed his disabled relatives.
Video footages surfaced on January 2 stating that “the wrong person is being made a hero,” that his common-law wife with two children left him a year ago after beatings, that he never financially helped his children and that there were no people with disabilities in the family. On the same day, it became known that an appeal hearing on the driver's case had been scheduled for January 3. Gazeta.uz has collected the main information about this case.
Public reaction
After Gayrat Dustov's remarks, public activists began to express concerns about possible measures that could be taken against the driver. Journalist Ilyos Safarov wrote two days before the court's ruling:
"If this person is punished for his words, no one will be able to convince me that there is justice in this country. Society, people should at least verbally support the hero who speaks out the truth and defends his rights. This person should not be punished."
After the news of the driver's arrest, discussions flared up with renewed vigor. Lawyer and blogger Khushnudbek Khudoyberdiev said: "When foul-mouthed officials easily get away with simple apologies, it is unfair to imprison a commoner."
"If the people feel justice, they can patiently endure many difficulties. Of course, there will be many who openly express their dissatisfaction with the problems, and this is natural, because the people are not all the same, but 37 million different people. However, having spoken out, people still continue to endure problems, gritting their teeth, and cope with life's difficulties. They do not cross the moral line. Expressing their pain, they can ease their souls a little, because this is not a crime," he believes.
A cartoon from the popular Habikatura channel on the topic of discussion launched a flash mob on Instagram with the caption "Freedom in the name of human dignity." At the time of preparing the material, about 35 thousand people shared the cartoon in their stories, and its revised versions appeared.
Finance blogger and public activist Otabek Bakirov wrote that he believed in the slogan "Let's act together for the dignity and happiness of man" and considered it right for the convicted man to be released on bail.
Human rights activist Abdurakhmon Tashanov reported that an appeals court hearing on the case of Gairat Dustov is scheduled for today, January 3.
