A few days ago, a Tajik migrant who extinguished a burning car in Moscow made headlines in Tajik media. In a video published on social media, he is seen stopping his water truck on the road and putting out the fire in the burning vehicle. Many social media users praised his actions.
Asia-Plus found this young man and learned who he is and what happened that day.
Otabek Madrahimov is from the city of Tursunzoda. He is 27 years old and graduated from the Ayni Pedagogical University with a degree in “medicine.” He worked for a year as a biology teacher at his hometown school but left for Russia due to low wages and financial difficulties.
Otabek has been working as a labor migrant in Russia for three years. He works as a water truck driver in the municipal services of “Khoroshevo-Mnevniki” in Moscow. Before joining this government job, he worked at a car wash.
According to our source, when he accidentally witnessed the car fire, he immediately rushed to help.
"I was heading toward the scene in my water truck, but since cars were blocking my way, I was a few minutes late. The front of the car was already on fire, and the flames were close to the fuel tank. I quickly opened the hose and connected it to the truck," Otabek explained.
The young man said that at first, he felt fear as the fire was close to the fuel tank, and there was a high risk of an explosion. However, quick action was needed, and his fear passed.
"I fulfilled my human duty, thinking that there could be someone in the car, especially a child. Then I wanted to prove that migrants are not malicious and not criminals," said Otabek.
After the incident, many expressed their gratitude to Otabek Madrahimov, but according to him, Russian authorities did not search for him, and Russian media did not report his heroic act. Only the Tajikistan Ministry of Labor, Migration, and Employment's representative office in Russia presented him with a letter of appreciation.
Otabek says that while Russian media report even the smallest violations of rules by citizens of Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries, they often refrain from covering the good deeds they perform.
Other worthy deeds of Tajik migrants
It should be noted that this is not the first heroic act by citizens of Tajikistan in Russia. Recently, in the Moscow region, Bakhtiyor Ismoilov, another Tajik, saved an 11-month-old baby who was crawling almost naked alog the side of the road and handed the baby over to relatives.
Earlier, Tajik migrants have also saved lives in emergency situations in Russia. Muhammadjon Obidov, a 23-year-old native of Tajikistan, saved a newborn girl in Moscow in July 2024 from a man who was trying to abduct her while drunk.
Another example: Hasan Avgonov, a 58-year-old native of Tajikistan, despite his age and poor health, jumped into icy water last year when he heard cries for help from drowning children and saved the boys.
