Presumption of innocence, witness protection, and judicial independence: Senators approve new law

During the fifth plenary session of the Senate, lawmakers approved the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with the Adoption of the New Version of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aimed at Strengthening Judicial Activities and Ensuring Citizens' Rights and Freedoms."

It was noted that in recent years, Uzbekistan has undertaken significant reforms to fundamentally enhance its legal system and ensure the independence of the judiciary. These reforms cover a wide range of areas, including improvements in judicial proceedings, increasing transparency and impartiality in court rulings, and strengthening guarantees for the protection of citizens’ and business entities’ rights, freedoms, and legal interests.

The law proposes amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, stating that a suspect, accused, or defendant is not required to prove their innocence and may exercise their right to remain silent at any time.

Additionally, if a person’s confession is the sole piece of evidence against them, they cannot be convicted or punished based solely on that confession. The legislation also introduces the right for witnesses involved in court proceedings to refrain from testifying against themselves or their close relatives.

Furthermore, the law establishes strict legal grounds for disqualifying a judge from a case, suspending their powers, or transferring them to another position, ensuring such actions are only taken in accordance with legal procedures. It explicitly prohibits any form of interference in judicial activities and affirms that judges cannot be held liable for their rulings.

Clarifications were also made regarding the Supreme Court’s legislative initiative powers, specifying that it can only propose matters within its jurisdiction.

“The significance of this law lies in its role in ensuring reliable protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms while further enhancing the quality of justice. Its adoption provides the necessary legal guarantees for judges to directly apply constitutional norms and uphold constitutional supremacy in the administration of justice. Additionally, it strengthens the protection of individual rights and freedoms through the judicial system,” stated participants of the session.