10 main changes in Uzbekistan’s new constitution

The new version of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan entered into force on May 1, 2023. This was based on the adoption of a relevant law consisting of 11 articles based on the result of the referendum held on April 30. A new version of the Constitution is attached to Article 1 of this law.

Until then, since 1992, the constitution has been amended 15 times. This time, due to the large scale of changes, a new version of the document was adopted. As a result of the update, the number of items in the main law increased from 128 to 155, and the norms in it increased from 275 to 434. In total, according to officials, the constitution has been updated by 65%.

Below, according to Kun.uz, the changes that took place in the ten most important areas are mentioned according to the sequence in the document:

1. Uzbekistan is a legal, social and secular state;
2. The Constitution is directly applicable;
3. Privileges do not need to be written down in law;
4. All uncertainty is in favor of man;
5. Human rights may be restricted in order to maintain social morality and public order;
6. Teachers are specially recognized; 
7. Land can be private property;
8. Obstruction of media activity is a cause of responsibility;
9. Changes in public administration: The term of office of the President has become 7 years;
10. Changes in local government administration: Governors have left the council chairmanship. 

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In addition to the above, many other norms were added to the constitution, including:

• The death penalty is prohibited in Uzbekistan.
• If a person’s confession is the only evidence against him, he cannot be found guilty or punished.
• Evidence obtained in violation of the law shall not be used in the course of justice.
• Everyone has the right to request the correction of incorrect information about his identity, the destruction of information about him that was collected illegally or has no legal basis.
• The state creates conditions for ensuring the use of the Internet global information network.

According to officials, December 8, 1992 will be recognized as the date of adoption of the constitution, and the date of December 8 – holiday will not change.