Now, they said, they felt their lives were in danger. Nevertheless, two members of the LGBT community, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters they had been largely left alone until the public backlash against Bazarov's posts. Homosexuality is banned in Uzbekistan and consensual gay sex is a felony. Police said they intervened and prevented injuries.

An angry mob later attacked several young people who planned to attend an event organised by Bazarov, although it had nothing to do with LGBT issues and was devoted to Korean pop music and Japanese cartoons.