Not "Rahmat," but "Raxmet": Qudratkhoja Criticizes Bezrukov

On November 22, 2025, an interview given by Russian actor Sergey Bezrukov following his visit to Uzbekistan sparked extensive discussions on social media. The actor shared his impressions of his meetings with fans, the hospitality of Uzbeks, and the warm reception he received during his tour.

Meanwhile, some users criticized the actor for visiting a cemetery late in the evening and for mispronouncing the Uzbek word for “thank you” as “rahmet” instead of “rahmat.” Against the backdrop of these discussions, Sherzodkhon Qudratkhoja, Rector of the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan, shared his opinion on the matter.

He regarded the actor’s mistake as a lack of attention to national culture and emphasized that public figures visiting other countries should pay special attention to national cultural characteristics. “What makes this incident even more revealing is that, ultimately, you also confused the country,” said Qudratkhoja.

“No one misled you — you said it yourself: ‘Rahmet.’ In Uzbekistan.

Here, they say ‘Rahmat.’ You confused Uzbekistan with our neighboring country Kazakhstan, just as you confused respect with décor,” Qudratkhoja remarked.

Furthermore, in his statement, Qudratkhoja highlighted the importance of respecting a country’s cultural characteristics and added, “Any public statements by guests become part of the society’s discussion.” He also underlined that Uzbekistan values the attention and visits of foreign artists but noted that respect for local traditions should always form the foundation of dialogue.

At the same time, Sergey Bezrukov expressed gratitude to Uzbek audiences during a press conference for their sincere and emotional reception. He noted that the audience’s sincerity, the organization of the tour, and the country’s rich culture had left him deeply impressed.

The Russian actor also stated his intention to return to Uzbekistan in the future. Read “Zamin” on Telegram!