Uzbekistan to establish eco police to strengthen environmental law enforcement

The establishment of the eco police was announced on 19 November in a presidential decree and resolution.

According to the decision, the eco police, formally part of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change without separate legal status, will be formed in Uzbekistan.

A total of 40 staffing units allocated to environmental and forestry oversight in regional and city prosecutor’s offices will be transferred to the eco police.

The eco police will function as a specialized unit within the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, tasked with ensuring environmental security and preventing violations in this area.

The chair of the Ecology Committee will also serve as the head of the eco police. The deputy head of the eco police will simultaneously serve as deputy chair of the Ecology Committee and lead the eco police rapid response unit.

Eco police officers will have the right to use physical force, special tools (stun devices), and service weapons (rubber bullets and net-firing weapons). Body cameras will be installed on their uniforms.

Until the relevant legislative amendments are enacted, the procedures for using physical force, special tools, and service weapons will follow the conditions and grounds established in the Law on Internal Affairs.

The eco police will be provided with specialized equipment and vehicles from non-budgetary funds of the Ecology Committee.

The decree also approved a program to equip eco police officers with specialized equipment and vehicles for 2025–2027.