Accountability for torture-related deaths may be strengthened in Uzbekistan

Amendments and additions to the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan are under consideration as part of efforts to enhance the prevention of torture. A draft law addressing these changes has been published on the portal for the discussion of normative legal documents.

The proposed law introduces harsher penalties for causing death through torture, as well as for other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and punishment.

On February 21, 2024, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and the Senate tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Center for Human Rights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice with developing proposals to further improve Article 235 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and punishments, in alignment with international standards.

According to the proposed amendments, Article 235 will be supplemented with parts 3 and 4, specifying that:

• If the actions outlined in the first or second part of this article result in serious bodily injury, the offender will be subject to imprisonment for up to 8 years.
• If these actions lead to the death of the victim or other severe consequences, the offender will face imprisonment for a period of 8 to 10 years, along with the deprivation of certain rights.

The draft law emphasizes that the proposed changes and additions are aimed at enhancing the dignity of individuals and improving the peaceful life of the population. Moreover, it clarifies that, in cases of death due to torture, there is no need for additional qualifications for the offense.

It should be noted that a previous report highlighted an incident in the city of Bekobad, Tashkent region, where an officer of the Internal Affairs Department was arrested after allegedly beating and killing the brother of a defendant. Additionally, in the Buka district, DIA officers responsible for the death of a suspect under investigation were also apprehended.