Authorities in the Tashkent region have concluded an investigation into a viral video showing a courier being beaten. The footage was found to be a staged prank created by two bloggers to attract followers.

According to Bobur Tulaganov, press secretary of the Tashkent Regional Department of Internal Affairs, a 32-year-old man from the Sherabad district of Surkhandarya region, together with an acquaintance, filmed the staged scene and posted it on Instagram. The video sparked widespread public outcry.

The prank's author stated: "We did not expect such a serious reaction. We regret making and posting the video."

The participants face charges under Article 189-1 ("Production and distribution of materials promoting violence or cruelty"). The case has been sent to court.

Under Uzbek law, individuals convicted of such offenses face fines ranging from 50 to 400 times the base calculation value—between 20.6 million and 165 million soums (approximately $1,600 to $12,800).

The authorities urged citizens to be responsible when creating and sharing content on social media and not to mislead the public.

Earlier, a family in Tashkent staged a dramatic video showing two masked individuals allegedly smashing their Mercedes-Benz G-Class after its windshield cracked, instead of simply replacing it.

Source: podrobno.uz