Residents of Tashkent’s Yunusabad district are demanding an official investigation after surveillance footage appeared to show children luring a stray cat into an apartment entrance with a bowl of food and setting fire to the tip of its tail in the Uvaysiy mahalla, 19th quarter, near house No. 7. The incident, first circulated by the Animal life in Uzbekistan channel, has raised urgent questions about child supervision, animal cruelty, and the local police response. The cat’s current whereabouts and medical condition remain unknown, and no official confirmation of a criminal or administrative inquiry has been released.
Key Takeaways: The video reportedly shows minors using food left for strays to lure the animal inside before its tail fur caught fire; the frightened cat fled and was allegedly pursued. Residents say attempts to file a complaint were complicated after a district officer said he was on sick leave and no one could accept the statement. Local volunteers and feeders are still searching for the animal and are asking Tashkent police and Yunusabad district authorities to identify those involved and assess parental responsibility.
The case has resonated because it unfolded in a densely populated residential area where residents routinely leave food for homeless animals. According to the account, the same bowl was later burned, and there were additional reports—still unverified—that children set fire to electrical wiring in the entrance. These claims require careful checking by law enforcement and emergency services, because they could indicate risks not only to animals but also to residents of the building. The footage has spread through local social media, drawing anger from animal welfare advocates and ordinary neighbors.
One resident who tried to report the incident said she contacted the local precinct officer but was told he was on sick leave and that no one was available to receive her application. The public is being reminded that such matters can be reported through the 102 police hotline. Neighbors have appealed to the Tashkent Main Internal Affairs Directorate and the Yunusabad district police department to conduct a prompt check, establish the identities and ages of the minors, and give a legal assessment of their actions. They also want parents or legal representatives brought into the process.
Residents are additionally insisting that the injured cat be found and, if necessary, given veterinary care. So far, there has been no official statement on the inspection, the cat’s condition, or whether any measures have been taken against the children or their families. The case follows an earlier Tashkent episode in which the author of a video showing adults tying a rope around a cat’s neck and handing it to a child was fined for animal cruelty. That precedent is now being cited by activists as evidence that authorities should treat footage of abuse as a serious matter requiring consistent follow-up.
The immediate next steps are likely to focus on verifying the video, locating the animal, interviewing witnesses and families, and clarifying why the initial complaint was not accepted. For now, the episode remains a test of how local institutions respond when community anger and animal welfare concerns intersect. Residents say they will continue pressing for transparency, while officials have not yet provided a timeline for the check or confirmed whether the case will lead to administrative or other measures.
Source: podrobno.uz