BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 6
By Fakhri Vakilov-Trend:
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed amendments to legislation that provide for the abolition of criminal liability of foreign citizens for violation of the rules of stay in the country, Trend reports referring to Uzbekistan’s legal information portal "Norma".
In addition, the amount of administrative fines for this violation has been reduced from five to 20 minimum wages (from $115 to $460).
Previously, the size of the fine was from 50 to 100 minimum wages (from $1,150 to $2,300). In accordance with the amendments, foreigners who violate the rules of stay in Uzbekistan will be able to pay a fine right at the border crossing point - at the airport or at the railway station.
There are not many countries which have criminal liability for violations of the rules of stay. For example, visitors are limited to a fine, expulsion or a ban on entry for a certain period in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, the USA, EU countries, Turkey and Singapore.
Uzbekistan followed the example of these states and repealed article 224 of the Criminal Code. This article was used in cases of repeated violation of the rules of stay in Uzbekistan after applying administrative penalties. Foreigners and stateless persons were facing up to three years of sentence in prison.
It was used in the cases of repeated violation of the rules of stay in Uzbekistan after applying administrative penalties for this. Foreigners and stateless persons (LBG) may had been end up in prison for three years.
According to Uzbekistan’s State Committee for Tourism, in 2016, 6,256 persons were administratively liable for these violations, of which 4,079 were foreign citizens; in 2017 - 6,006 people including 3,817 foreigners, and in 2018 - 5,764 people including 4,101 foreigners.
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