A video appeared on Instagram showing boxing world champion and Olympic silver medalist Shakhram Giyasov wrestling a muzzled bear in a gym owned by Buka Gym.
In the video, the athlete repeatedly knocks the animal onto its back. Someone is holding the bear on a leash.
Media users condemned the actions of the boxer. “Horrible”, “disgusting”, “the lowest point”, “animal abuse” — such comments were left under the post on the channel that shared the video. The video was later deleted, but many other channels had already copied it.
Video still.
Animal protection organization Mehr va Oqibat said it received messages from citizens shocked by the video. The organization also clarified that the bear had no claws.
The organization prepared a complaint to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change.
Later, the Ecology Ministry said it was investigating the case and would ensure that the organizers of the filming would bear responsibility.
Meanwhile, Buka Gym (Shakhram Giyasov is one of its brand ambassadors) issued an apology, saying it was not aware of the case and that it could not control how its clients used the gym. The company said it instructed the gym staff and its ambassadors that such behavior is inappropriate and in violation of the gym use rules.
