The long-awaited law, signed on June 22, established a list of corruption crimes consisting of 18 articles of the Criminal Code (or some of their provisions). Persons found guilty of the crimes listed in this list will be entered into the electronic register and they will not be accepted for government work during the period of conviction. The law does not specify whether the registry should be open or closed to the public.
Photo: State Security Service
On June 22, the President of Uzbekistan aimed to increase accountability for corruption the law signed.
The law established a list of corruption-related crimes and restrictions imposed on corrupt officials.
Corruption crimes
The following crimes specified in the Criminal Code are considered to be related to corruption:
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embezzlement or embezzlement committed by abuse of official position (Article 167, part 3, clause “d”.)
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fraud committed using the position of service (Article 168, part 4, clause “g”.);
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bribery in commerce (Article 192-9);
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bribery of an employee of a non-governmental commercial organization or other non-governmental organization (Article 192-10);
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abuse of authority by officials in a non-governmental commercial organization or other non-governmental organization with malicious intentions (Article 192-11, part 2, clause “c”.);
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abuse of power or position with malicious intent (Article 205, Part 2, Clause “v”.);
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deviating from the scope of authority or official authority with malicious intentions (Article 206, Part 2, Clause “v”.);
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inaction of the authorities committed with malicious intent (Article 208, part 2);
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career fraud committed with malicious intent (Article 209, Part 2, Clause “v”.);
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bribery (Article 210);
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bribe (Article 211);
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brokering bribery (Article 212);
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bribery of an employee of a state body, an organization with state participation, or a self-governing body of citizens (Article 213);
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Illegal receipt of material assets or property interest by an employee of a state body, organization with state participation, or self-government body of citizens (Article 214);
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the participants and organizers of sports competitions illegally receive material values or have a property interest (Article 214-1);
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bribery of participants and organizers of sports competitions (Article 214-2);
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abuse of power committed with malicious intent among military officials, going beyond the authority of the authority or inaction of the authority (Article 301, part 2, clause “b”.).
It also provides for the crime of money laundering (Article 243 of the Criminal Code). as a result of committing corruption crimes corruption is a crime if it is committed in connection with the legalization of received income.
Register of corrupt persons
Pursuant to the amendments to the Law “On Combating Corruption”, persons found guilty of committing crimes related to corruption electronic register is conducted.
The following restrictions are imposed on persons included in the register:
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entry into public service and receiving state awards;
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nomination of candidates for elected and appointed positions;
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to be a member of public councils and interdepartmental collegial bodies under state bodies;
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to participate as a participant (executor) in public procurement of business entities founded by him and (or) in which he owns more than 50% of the share in the authorized fund (authorized capital) and in the agreement on public-private partnership;
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working in leadership positions in organizations and state educational institutions with a state share of more than 50 percent.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs shall enter information about the person in the register within 3 working days from the date of entry into legal force of the conviction (sentence) against the persons found guilty of committing corruption-related crimes.
Information about persons in the register is kept in the register for the duration of the conviction specified in the Criminal Code.
The register is maintained by the Anti-Corruption Agency in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Will the registry be open?
The law does not specify the procedure for obtaining information from the electronic register, in particular, it is not specified whether this register is open to the public or not. The 2021 presidential decree stipulates that this register will be open.
According to the law, the procedure for obtaining information from the electronic register, the grounds and procedure for removing persons found guilty of corruption-related crimes from the register shall be carried out in accordance with the law. That is, these issues can be regulated not by law, but by the decision of the president or the government.
The law entered into force on June 23, 2026, the date of its official announcement.
5 years pending law
The task of establishing a clear list of corruption-related crimes and maintaining an open register of those who committed crimes on this list, and imposing restrictions on them, is in the presidential decree signed on July 6, 2021 defined. Thus, it actually took 5 years to ensure the execution of the decree.
For information, 566 persons who committed corruption crimes in Uzbekistan were re-admitted to public service in 2023 and again committed corruption. slapped.
How long is the sentence?
According to the law, it was determined that the persons involved in corruption will be in the registry during the term of conviction.
According to Article 78 of the Criminal Code, the conviction of a person is completed at the following times:
- in relation to those sentenced to probation – from the day the probationary period ends;
- after serving punishments in the form of compulsory community service, service restriction or sending to a disciplinary unit;
- one year after the date of execution of the fine, as well as after the completion of the punishments of deprivation of certain rights or correctional works;
- after serving the sentence of restriction of freedom – after two years;
- After serving a sentence of deprivation of liberty for a period not exceeding 5 years – after four years;
- After serving a sentence of deprivation of liberty for more than 5 years, but not more than 10 years – after seven years;
- After serving a sentence of deprivation of liberty for a period of more than 10 years, but not more than 15 years – after ten years.
If the person has not been subjected to administrative punishment or disciplinary measures after serving the sentence of deprivation of liberty, the court may remove the conviction after at least half of the above-mentioned periods have passed.
