Uzbekistan to strengthen penalties for deaths caused by torture

A draft law "On Amendments and Additions to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with the Improvement of the System for the Prevention of Torture" has been submitted for discussion.

The document proposes to toughen the responsibility for deaths resulting from torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and punishment.

Specifically, according to the amendments and additions to the Criminal Code, Article 235 (Use of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment and Punishment) will be supplemented with new sections.

Thus, if torture results in serious bodily harm, it will be punishable by deprivation of certain rights and imprisonment for up to 8 years. If the torture results in the death of the victim or other serious consequences, such acts will be punishable by deprivation of certain rights and imprisonment for 8 to 10 years.

Under current legislation, torture is punishable by deprivation of certain rights and restriction of freedom for three to five years or by imprisonment for three to five years.

Additionally, if the torture is committed repeatedly by a group of persons with the intent to falsify evidence, it will be punishable by deprivation of certain rights and imprisonment for five to seven years.

According to the draft law, in cases where death results from torture in practice, additional qualifications by other articles are not required.