Uzbekistan responds to sovereignty threats with legal amendments

On November 15, amendments were made to the legislation regarding the stay of foreign nationals in the territory of Uzbekistan. Under the new rules, any foreign individual who insults Uzbekistan’s sovereignty, people, or history can be barred from entry, deported, or subjected to other legal restrictions.

Bekmurodov emphasized that while the hope is to maintain friendly and trusting relations, particularly with Russian counterparts, any future actions undermining Uzbekistan’s sovereignty would activate the new mechanism.

“Let us hope that no one will be added to this list and that no threats to our sovereignty will occur. We are actively fostering an atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust with our colleagues in Russia to ensure such situations are avoided,” said Bekmurodov.

He added, “If such threats arise, there should be no excuses. Those responsible will be included in the list and subjected to the outlined legal measures.”

Uzbekistan has recently faced inflammatory remarks from some Russian officials and public figures, including Zakhar Prilepin, Mikhail Smolin, and Pyotr Tolstoy. Their statements, deemed offensive and baseless by many in Uzbekistan, sparked public outrage, with activists urging authorities to ban such individuals from entering the country.

Additionally, Russian State Duma member Sergey Mironov’s suggestion to impose a visa regime on Uzbekistan, following the Uzbek Consulate in Kazan advising citizens not to join the Russian military, further heightened tensions. Bekmurodov defended the consulate’s stance, describing it as lawful and just, reflecting Uzbekistan’s legal framework.

Bekmurodov stressed the importance of addressing disputes diplomatically. “We aim to ensure that no country threatens another’s sovereignty, especially on such sensitive matters,” he remarked. While recent incidents have not involved formal threats from any state officials, Uzbekistan remains vigilant in defending its national integrity.