Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 February 2020, at a regular plenary meeting of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, a draft Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan was considered in the second reading.

It was noted that citizenship is a legal institution that characterizes a person’s relationship with the state, which provides equal rights and opportunities. But among us there are many who were born, raised, studied and work in our country, but do not have citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This problematic issue was resolved three years ago, at the initiative of the head of state, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, hundreds of residents received citizenship.

According to statistics, from 1991 to today, 8,249 individuals without citizenship have accepted citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan. From December 2016 - July 2019 the main part - 7,765 (94 percent) received the citizenship of our country.

On 24 January, in his Address to the Oliy Majlis, the head of state dwelt on this issue, which our people were happy to welcome.

In the Address, the President of the country noted that improving the legislation on citizenship, it is possible to take another important step in ensuring human rights.

Noting that the time has come to take organizational and legal measures to solve the problems of our compatriots, who have lived in the country for many years but have not received the status of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in accordance with the law, the head of state emphasized that people who arrived in the republic before 1995 and since then, living in the country should automatically become citizens of Uzbekistan.

It was thus envisaged to solve the vitally important problem of almost 50 thousand compatriots.

The draft law “On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan” in the new edition, considered at the meeting, is therefore of great importance.

The current Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan” was adopted 27 years ago and does not meet the realities of the time, in particular, the large-scale reforms taking place in the country in all spheres of life.

The draft law has been reviewed and analyzed several times by the created working group under the Committee of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on defense and security, experts from the Cabinet of Ministers, ministries of justice, internal and foreign affairs, and also factions of political parties.

It was noted that in article 6 of the draft law, a person who arrived and was permanently registered in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan until January 1, 1995, did not accept the citizenship of a foreign state and lived before the entry into force of this Law on the basis of a residence permit of the Republic of Uzbekistan for a stateless person upon declaration wishes, recognized as a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The concept of “compatriot” is introduced into the draft law and the adoption of the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a simplified manner is defined for them. Norms are also being introduced to create mechanisms for electronic interagency cooperation to address citizenship issues.

As a result of the adoption of the document, favorable legal opportunities will be created for admission to the citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a simplified manner. The number of documents submitted for obtaining citizenship will be reduced, the period for registering a citizen for consular registration is extended. In general, all changes that affected citizenship during the period of the implementation of broad reforms in the legal sphere will be consolidated at the legislative level.

After heated discussions of the norms of this draft law, it was adopted and will be sent to the Senate.