A Russian tourist detained in Uzbekistan for using a drone has been acquitted

The court acquitted Polina Ermakova, a Russian tourist detained on 17 May for smuggling a drone into Uzbekistan.  She has already flown home.  This is reported by TASS with reference to the press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Tashkent Dmitry Danilov.

It is noted that criminal proceedings have been initiated against a citizen of the Russian Federation under Article 244-4 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (smuggling, sale, acquisition, storage, or use of unmanned aerial vehicles).  This article provides for up to three years' imprisonment.

«The court acquitted Polina Ermakova, but the drone was confiscated when she was detained, and the Russian woman has already flown home», - Danilov said.

According to him, Ermakova, who was detained a few days after crossing the Uzbekistan border, was released until the trial.

Interestingly, the tourist who went to Kyrgyzstan and then visited Uzbekistan told the border guard who checked it at the border checkpoint of Uzbekistan, that she had a drone in her bag, but the border guard allowed it into the country.

It should be noted that a similar case occurred with Russian blogger Maxim Limar, who was detained before the flight from Bukhara to Novosibirsk after the discovery of a quadcopter.  Soon after, he was fined and taken to Russia.

In Uzbekistan, since 2015, the government has imposed restrictions on the import and use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the airspace of the country.

In 2019, the republic increased responsibility for the illegal import and operation of drones.

In Uzbekistan, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles is permitted only with the permission of the government, which could be issued to a legal entity for the performance of administrative duties. Under the legislation of the Republic, the importation, storage, or use of unmanned aerial vehicles is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment.