In Tashkent, law enforcement apprehended young people dressed up for Halloween.

According to eyewitness reports, some of those detained were taken to the Yakkasaray District Internal Affairs Department, where they were fined under Article 184-4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. This article stipulates a fine ranging from 10 to 15 BRV (from 3.75 to 5.62 million soms) for being in public places with a covered face, making it difficult to establish one's identity.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Shohrukh Giyasov, commented on the situation, noting that Halloween itself is not banned in Uzbekistan, but the behavior of the youth raises concerns.

"If someone wore a pumpkin on their head, it would be immediately clear that it's Halloween. But in this case, it’s unclear what’s happening. They could be some kind of sectarians gathering to offer hedgehogs as sacrifices. That’s why they were checked," he wrote.

In response to a question from a Podrobno.uz correspondent about whether the young people were indeed fined, the head of the department’s press service stated that law enforcement had identified the individuals and released those detained. He also promised to provide further information regarding the situation.