Law on detention in criminal proceedings signed in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Oct. 6/Trend, D. Azizov /

In Uzbekistan, law "On the detention during the criminal case" signed. The law was adopted by Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (lower house of Uzbek parliament) in July this year, approved by the upper house of parliament - the Senate in August and signed by President Islam Karimov.

Law is aimed at further liberalization of criminal and criminal procedural law and judicial and legal system.

The law set out the basic principles, bases, detention periods, establishes the rights of detainees and remand prisoners, as well as guarantees for their security.

Articles of the law defined, in particular, the procedure for meetings with defense counsel, legal representative, visit the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights Representative (Ombudsman) to places of detention.

According to the articles of the law, detainees and prisoners in custody are presumed innocent until their guilt in committing a crime is proven in accordance with law and installed by a valid court verdict.

Discrimination against detainees and prisoners in custody on the basis of gender, race, nationality, language, religion, social origin, beliefs, personal and social status is not allowed, such as torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment used on detainees in custody.

In connection with the adoption and entry into force of this law, the appropriate changes made to the Criminal Procedural Code of Uzbekistan. In particular, the CPC introduced the rule obliging the police or other law enforcement agency to notify the prosecutor of the detention produced, as well as a number of other add-ons to protect the rights of the accused in custody.