Regarding this situation, the head of the press service of the Ministry of Culture, Sirojiddin Usarov, gave a comment to Kun.uz. According to his information, the video was filmed on October 25, 2025, at the wedding of one of the ministry's employees.
The ministry's comment notes that in the video, money was handed to Ozodbek Nazarbekov by wedding participants, and this situation was not planned in advance. The official statement emphasizes that in such a situation, rejecting citizens' wishes in public could put them in an awkward position, and it was taken into account that this could be misinterpreted as humiliation or disrespect.
Furthermore, the ministry reminds that handing money to performers at wedding ceremonies is not prohibited by current legislation. It is evaluated as part of national customs and values formed over centuries and is associated with the concept of "orzu-havas" (well-wishing/gifting) among the people.
The Ministry of Culture also separately emphasized that Ozodbek Nazarbekov is not only a minister but also a famous Uzbek singer. He is a People's Artist of Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as an Honored Cultural Worker of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Therefore, it was noted that the situation observed at the wedding ceremony should be assessed as a circumstance related to his professional activity.
Regardless of the position one holds, one cannot be separated from their chosen profession. This situation is viewed precisely from this perspective, — the official comment states.
It is known that the Anti-Corruption Agency has submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Culture regarding this situation.
It is worth noting that Ozodbek Nazarbekov has previously been the center of public discussion. In particular, he participated in an advertisement for the Kingsman clothing store in 2024, at which time the minister's press service stated that no material benefit was intended in that case. Also, he appeared in an advertisement for a private university in 2025.
