Mirziyoyev Demands Higher Public Trust in Uzbek Courts
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has demanded a significant increase in public trust in the judicial system and approved the "Justice 2030" Strategy to further reform the nation's courts, Uzbekistan 24 television reported.
Speaking during a presentation of the strategy, Mirziyoyev stated that despite recent reforms, substantial work remains to be done, highlighting public satisfaction and trust as the primary criteria for judicial effectiveness. He noted that the court serves as one of the three pillars of state power, while the Constitutional Court must act as a fair arbiter, adding that conditions must be created to achieve complete public trust and build a modern judicial system by 2030. Mirziyoyev subsequently signed a decree to implement the strategy, which encompasses 57 tasks, 160 measures, and 33 objectives.
Supreme Court Chairwoman Robakhon Makhmudova presented the core provisions of the strategy, which is guided by the principle "For the sake of human dignity." Under the plan, civil courts will be expanded incrementally across all 208 districts and cities nationwide by 2030. Additionally, courts will stop returning misdirected applications to citizens, instead forwarding the documents to the proper jurisdiction automatically and assisting applicants with minor errors. Court buildings will also introduce "one-stop shop" service offices to provide information, consultation, and assistance.
Structural and procedural changes include establishing five interregional courts by 1 July 2027 to handle case reviews in supervisory proceedings, leaving regional courts with appellate and cassation powers to ensure courts do not review their own decisions at different stages. The Supreme Court will focus on complex and systemic issues.
The strategy also expands the powers of investigative judges to verify the validity of detention requests and request additional documents based on the principle of prima facie, or reasonable suspicion. Further measures include establishing an open registry of judicial precedents featuring final legal positions of the Supreme Court Presidium, creating an open registry of administrative acts deemed unlawful by courts, expanding mediation and conciliation procedures, and increasing the categories of criminal cases heard with public representatives.
Under the "Digital Court" concept, digitalization efforts will aim to increase electronic filings to at least 50 percent, ensure 100 percent audio recording coverage of court sessions, and grow the number of Supreme Court information system users by at least fivefold.
