Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has tightened liability for interference in court proceedings and expanded administrative responsibility for disrespecting courts.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan.”
The law was adopted by the Legislative Chamber on 24 February 2026 and approved by the Senate on 19 May 2026.
The document’s preamble states that Uzbekistan is consistently taking measures to ensure the independence of the judiciary and the inviolability of judges, eliminate factors hindering the administration of justice and strengthen public confidence in the judicial system.
Against this backdrop, the law aims to establish effective mechanisms to prevent cases of disrespect for courts and clarify liability for interference in the resolution of court cases.
Amendment to the Criminal Code
The law sets out Article 236 of the Criminal Code in a new version.
Under the amended provision, interference in an investigation — defined as exerting unlawful influence in any form on an investigator or prosecutor with the aim of preventing a comprehensive, complete and objective examination of a particular case — is punishable by up to three years of correctional labour, restriction of liberty or imprisonment.
Interference in the resolution of court cases — defined as exerting unlawful influence in any form on a judge or lay judge with the aim of preventing a comprehensive, complete and objective examination of a particular case or securing an unjust decision, verdict, ruling or order — is punishable by up to three years of correctional labour, restriction of liberty or imprisonment.
If these acts are committed by an official, they are punishable by restriction of liberty for three to five years or imprisonment for the same period, together with deprivation of a specific right.
Amendments to the Administrative Liability Code
The law also amends Article 180 of Uzbekistan’s Code of Administrative Liability.
The wording of the article is supplemented after the words “during a court hearing” with the words “or in a court building.”
This establishes administrative liability for disrespecting the court not only directly during a court hearing, but also for violating public order inside a court building.
The law enters into force on the date of its official publication.
