Regret behind bars (video)

**Regret Behind Bars (video)**

The heavy sound of an iron door closing involuntarily squeezes one's heart. The silence left behind it is even heavier. Here, every minute seems to stretch, and every day passes in longing and suffering.

About two years ago, we met with inmates in one of the detention centers in the city of Bukhara. Recently, we felt the exact same feeling during another meeting held at Pre-trial Detention Center No. 4 of the sixth regional territory under the Department of Execution of Punishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting was organized by the Bukhara Regional Youth Affairs Administration. During the event, officials highlighted the opportunities being created for young people to receive education, acquire professions, work, and find a worthy place in society, and urged them to make proper use of every opportunity.

Failing to use the doors opening for youth today and spending the most valuable years of one's life behind bars due to a momentary mistake is an irreversible loss.

It is difficult to describe the atmosphere in the detention center in words. There is an untold story on every face here, and regret in every gaze. Young men who just yesterday were the spoiled darlings of their parents, someone's dream, someone's lover, or someone's child are today behind iron bars. Some of them have not even lived through their teenage years yet. Unfortunately, a single wrong decision, fair-weather friends, or a single careless step has changed their destiny.

During the conversation, regret cried out in the eyes of the inmates. Unfortunately, we cannot show their eyes filled with sorrow and bitter tears. These heart-wrenching tears made some bow their heads and left others speechless. When one mentioned his parents, his voice trembled. Another could not hide how much he missed his children. Most painfully, many of them have realized that freedom is not a simple thing.

There are things outside that we take for granted: opening our eyes in the morning and hearing a mother's voice, walking freely in the street, meeting friends, hugging your children, going wherever you want... Here, however, this very ordinary life has turned into a great dream.

"If only it were possible to turn back time..."

— statements to this effect were repeated over and over during the conversations.

But time does not turn back. Inmates can serve their sentences for what they did. However, the lost years, the aging of parents, and the growing up of children cannot be brought back.

The atmosphere behind bars makes one ponder. Here, you realize that punishment is not just iron doors and restricted movement. The heaviest punishment is being far from loved ones, being left alone with your actions, and realizing your mistake.

We repeat, the presence of young people among the inmates leaves an even heavier impression. Because youth is a period given not for going astray, but for dreaming, striving towards goals, acquiring a profession, learning, and building a life. However, a wrongly chosen environment, an uncontrolled desire, a bad friend, or a momentary lust sometimes forces a person to live in regret for years.

Let us rather hear their words — their regrets — from the conversation held with them.

"I have seen no other friends in my life.

I am inmate Davronbek Orifjonov, from Fergana region, I am serving my temporary sentence here. I was sentenced to five years of deprivation of liberty under Article 251, Part 5 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The process continues like this. 16 months have passed, in 4 months I will head to the colony.

– What have you changed in yourself during the time you spent here?

What have I changed, what have I realized?

– the interlocutor spoke thoughtfully,

– first of all, a person learns here to value the things they did not value 'outside'. They didn't say for nothing, 'What you despise, you will yearn for.' We did not value freedom. I am not saying the conditions are bad. But still, when there is no freedom, nothing tastes sweet.

– In your opinion, what is the factor that leads to crime? The environment, wrongly chosen friends, or lack of money? What?

The surroundings... wrong friends... It brings you all the way here.

In my hand is a bouquet,

Red, white, pink.

Its fragrance spreading,

Would take one's breath away.

Let her rejoice, let her be happy,

My mother's heart.

These days cost my mother dearly.

Oh, it wasn't easy,

The ups and downs...

These days cost my mother dearly..."

"I wouldn't wish such places even on my enemy"

In the gaze of the next interlocutor behind the iron bars, there is the weight of a life that has not even reached 24 years yet. He came here a year ago. During that one year, he realized the value of freedom, the love of parents, and how much a single wrong step can change a person's life.

– I am Farhod Kamoliddinov, born and raised in Zangiota district, Tashkent region. I was sentenced to five years and six months of deprivation of liberty under Article 169 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

There is no attempt to justify himself in Farhod's words. On the contrary, regret for what he did is felt in his every word.

During the year, I drew many conclusions for myself. Now I will try not to go near such crimes and to walk the right path. When a person walks in freedom, they do not value many things. Walking freely in the street, being together with your loved ones, going wherever you want — all of these are blessings.

According to Farhod, one of the reasons that led him to crime was the shortage in his family. He stole a phone from a shop. This was the first crime in his life. But that one mistake deprived him of liberty for more than five years.

Whether family circumstances or shortage had an effect, I went astray. Knowingly or unknowingly... I don't even know how to explain my regret. I am suffering from extreme pangs of conscience.

He is the youngest of three children. Two older sisters and himself. Outside, his loved ones and siblings are waiting for him.

When my sentence ends, many of my peers will have found their place in life. Someone will acquire a profession, someone will start a family. Someone else will take steps towards big goals. I, on the other hand, will be trying to make up for the lost years of my life at that time...

After these words, silence fell for a moment. 24 years old — there is still so much road, so many opportunities ahead. But to reach this opportunity, one must first overcome the years behind bars.

Life goes on. After I get out, I will try to build my career and live a good life. I want to be a person who brings benefit to our Motherland.

When Farhod addressed his peers, his voice became even more serious.

–

What I have to say to them is this: do not 'fall' into such things, do not come to such places. After coming here, I drew a big conclusion for myself. I wouldn't wish such places even on my enemy. Perhaps for a person walking outside, freedom is a simple concept. But for a person left behind iron doors, this is the greatest dream!

As we return from the meeting with the inmates, we look back: the heavy iron doors closed. But its sound did not leave our minds for a long time. Perhaps this is the greatest lesson of this meeting: each of us must realize the value of our freedom before losing it. Because sometimes, years are paid for a momentary mistake. And most tragically, during those years, a person's life remains behind bars.

This meeting was not just a meeting: the conversations, reflections, life examples, and warnings urged the young inmates to return to the right path, draw conclusions from their mistakes, and look to the future with hope.