Uzbekistan plans to decriminalize slander, defamation
TASHKENT. Jan 16 (Interfax) - A draft law softening the punishment for slander and defamation in Uzbekistan by decriminalizing them has been published on the portal where bills are published for public debate.
The bill removes from the Criminal Code punishment for slander and defamation in the form one of year of restricted freedom or imprisonment.
Slander, including on the Internet, will be punishable by a fine in an amount of 200 to 400 basic calculated amounts or 300 to 360 hours of compulsory community work. Slander leading to grave consequences committed by a dangerous repeat offender or for lucrative and other lowly motives is punishable by a fine in an amount of 400 to 500 basic calculated amounts or 300 to 360 hours of compulsory community work.
The document also decriminalizes defamation, including on the Internet, which means it is transferred from the Criminal Code to the Code of Administrative Violations. The violation is punishable by a fine in an amount of 400 to 600 basic calculated amounts or two to three years of corrective labor.
A basic calculated amount is now 202,730 som. The official rate for January 16 is 9,550.76 som/$1.
The bill was drafted by the Information and Mass Communication Agency of the Uzbek presidential administration.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev issued an order to draft and submit draft laws envisaging the protection of freedom of the media and use of information in late 2019.