6 Nov 2019 17:53

Uzbekistan cancels criminal punishment for breaking rules of stay

TASHKENT. Nov 6 (Interfax) - Amendments have been made to the laws of Uzbekistan reducing fines for the violation of rules of stay in the country by foreigners and persons without citizenship and canceling criminal punishment for repeated breaches.

The Uzbek Senate press service told Interfax on Wednesday that the president had signed a bill introducing corresponding amendments to the legislation on Tuesday.

"President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 5 signed into law a bill on amendments to the Criminal Code and Code of Administrative Responsibility aimed at relaxing punishment for the violation of rules of temporary stay in Uzbekistan of foreign citizens and persons without citizenship," a press service representative said.

The representative said that the Legislative Chamber passed the bill on September 30 and the Senate approved it on October 11. The document was published in the official media November 6 and thus came into force.

In line with the document, an article outlining criminal responsibility for the violation of the rules of stay in Uzbekistan was removed from the Criminal Code. Previously, an individual could be sentenced for a term of up to three years for such an offense.

In addition, fines for breaking the rules of stay and the passport system were reduced by ten times. Previously, fines ranging from the equivalent of 50 to 100 minimum wages were imposed on the transgressors. Now they will be penalized by the equivalent of five to 10 minimum wages.