National Guard officers authorized to handle administrative cases

National Guard personnel have been granted the authority to review administrative offense cases and impose penalties. This is stipulated in the newly adopted law amending the Code of Administrative Responsibility, which was approved on February 6.  

Under these amendments, military personnel and employees of the National Guard’s Department of Work with Children, along with its territorial divisions, are authorized to handle administrative offense cases and issue administrative penalties.  

The law will come into force upon its official publication.  

It is worth noting that on January 25, during the third plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, senators approved the law titled “On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with Improving the System of Prevention of Offenses Among Minors.”

The law introduces changes to Articles 248 and 248-1 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, outlining the powers of the National Guard and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Specifically, it grants the National Guard, including its inspector-psychologists for minors, the authority to review certain administrative cases.  

According to Article 4 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, the National Guard is now authorized to handle cases related to:  

- Failure to fulfill obligations regarding the upbringing and education of children (Article 47);  
- Smoking in public places (Article 56-1);  
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places (Part 1 of Article 187);  
- Engaging a minor in antisocial behavior (Article 188).  

Additionally, the law transfers these responsibilities from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ juvenile inspector-psychologists to the National Guard. Senators affirmed that the amendments align with the Constitution and existing laws of Uzbekistan and will not require additional budget expenditures.