On June 11 of this year, senior research fellows of the ILLP Sh.Mirzaev and Sh.Zokirov attended a meeting of the Senate Committee on Judicial and Legal Affairs and Anti-Corruption of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
During the meeting, amendments and additions to national legislation were considered, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures, clarifying certain powers of the People’s Deputies’ Councils, and improving the work of the Ombudsman and Children’s Ombudsman institutions.
In particular, a draft law aimed at strengthening measures to ensure the inevitability of accountability for corruption offences was discussed in detail. The document provides for the introduction of the concept of ‘corruption offences’ into the Criminal Code, the establishment of a list of such offences, the strengthening of penalties, and a ban on conditional early release for persons convicted of bribery and acting as an intermediary in bribery. During the discussion of the draft law, measures to improve the anti-corruption system were analysed in detail, including ways to enhance the effectiveness of relevant councils and compliance bodies. Separate consideration was given to the involvement of teachers and psychologists in the handling of cases involving minors, and to the new procedure for considering applications for the reduction of the period of deprivation of specific rights.
The meeting then moved on to discuss another draft law aimed at clarifying certain powers of the People’s Deputies’ Councils and strengthening the role of territorial anti-corruption councils. The document proposes to enshrine provisions under which the chairpersons of local people’s deputies’ councils will head the territorial anti-corruption councils. During the consideration of this draft law, particular attention was also paid to further improving the work of the Human Rights Commissioner and the Children’s Rights Commissioner by expanding their powers.
Following the meeting, the Committee adopted the relevant decisions on the draft laws discussed.