Mirziyoyev Approves Justice 2030 Strategy for Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with the heads of the judicial system to review the results of judicial and legal reforms and present the draft Justice 2030 Strategy. The president approved the document and signed a decree to implement the reforms set out in it.

The strategy is aimed at further developing Uzbekistan’s judicial system through 2030. It was developed taking into account public proposals, discussions with academics, practicing lawyers and advocates, as well as international best practices.

The document sets out 57 tasks, while the 2026-2028 action programme includes 160 specific measures. It also establishes 33 targets to be achieved by 2030.

One of the key changes will be the establishment of five interregional courts from 1 July 2027. They will serve as review courts, while regional courts will retain their appellate and cassation functions. The arrangement is intended to prevent courts from reviewing their own decisions and reduce the need for citizens to appeal to courts in the capital.

The strategy also provides for bringing civil courts closer to the public. By 2030, their operations will be gradually organised, as needed, in virtually all districts and cities. A “one-stop shop” principle is planned for all courts, allowing people to obtain information, submit applications and use digital services.

If an application is submitted to the wrong court, citizens will not have to resubmit it. The court will forward the application to the appropriate court itself. Applicants will also receive assistance in correcting minor deficiencies in their submissions.

To speed up the resolution of commercial disputes, the government plans to introduce a “proactive management of economic cases” standard. It is intended to reduce the need for businesses to approach different authorities and repeatedly submit documents.

A separate package of reforms concerns the protection of human rights during investigations and inquiries. A “reasonable suspicion” (Prima Facie) standard is planned. When considering whether to authorise investigative measures, an investigating judge will be able to examine the legality of detention, the sufficiency of grounds for suspicion or charges and request additional materials.

An open “Precedent Register” will be established to ensure consistency in judicial practice. It will include decisions of the Presidium of the Supreme Court.

A judicial administration system is planned to be introduced from 2028. This is intended to relieve judges of organisational functions not directly related to administering justice.

The digitalisation of the judicial system will continue. The “Digital Court” concept is planned to be fully implemented across all courts, while the my.sud.uz portal and its mobile application will be upgraded. The share of applications submitted electronically is expected to reach at least 50%, while audio recording is planned for 100% of court hearings. The number of users of the Supreme Court’s information systems is expected to increase at least fivefold.

The strategy also provides for expanding the use of mediation and reconciliation procedures, establishing an open register of administrative acts declared unlawful, and increasing to at least three the number of categories of criminal cases heard with the participation of a jury.

The meeting also addressed the organisation of court operations, including special uniforms for court staff. Other issues included further improvement of constitutional proceedings, increasing the effectiveness of judicial community bodies, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving the professional qualifications of judicial system employees abroad.

Following the meeting, the president approved the Justice 2030 Strategy and signed a decree aimed at implementing the measures outlined in it.