Animal rights activists want to appeal the lenient fine imposed on a Chirchik resident who tortured a dog in front of a child. Video
Animal rights activists intend to challenge the lenient fine imposed on a Chirchik resident who tortured a dog in front of a child. Video
In Chirchik, a man was held accountable for animal cruelty and fined 3.08 million soums. Animal rights activists and deputies deemed this punishment too lenient and intend to appeal it, as the abuse took place in the presence of a minor.
The incident occurred on August 23. A local resident contacted the call center of the Mehr va Oqibat Animal Protection Society, and soon after, a video of the incident appeared on social media. The recording shows a man approaching a dog that was lying quietly under a bench. He abruptly grabs the animal, twists it, lifts it into the air, and then squeezes and twists its jaw with his hands. The man himself claimed that the dog had bitten him, but eyewitnesses report that the animal was not bothering anyone and showed no aggression.
A representative of Mehr va Oqibat went to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and helped draft a report to law enforcement agencies. Later, animal rights activist Ilona Rasulova caught the injured dog — it is now in a safe place.
On September 11, a local precinct inspector issued the man the minimum fine under Part 1 of Article 111 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility ("Cruelty to Animals"). Mehr va Oqibat categorically disagreed with this decision. Animal rights activists are seeking to reclassify the case under Part 2 of the same article ("Committing an offense in the presence of a minor"). It provides for an increased fine of 6.6 to 11.3 million soums or administrative arrest for up to 15 days.
Deputy Elena Babenko also joined the demand for a harsher punishment.
"The most terrible thing is that he did this in front of a child. The child saw an adult man torturing a helpless animal. The decision must definitely be appealed, because children need to see that evil is punished," she emphasized.