Uzbekistan to reduce the number of penal colonies

In 2021, Uzbekistan plans to reduce the number of penal colonies, follows from the presidential decree.

“In order to introduce international standards and the principle of humanism, it is planned to reduce the number of penal colonies to 6 in 2021,” the document says.

In addition, it is planned to establish a system of quarterly “monitoring visits” to remand centers and prisons by the Commissioner for Human Rights of Oliy Majlis (Ombudsman), with the participation of representatives of the public by 1 April 2021.

If the draft is approved, the power to propose lighter and early release measures will be transferred from the enforcement agencies to the newly established humanitarian commissions by 1 June 2021.