By the law dated November 15, 2024, No. ZRU-998 amendments and additions have been made to the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan” (from June 4, 2021, No. ZRU-692).
The amendments include the addition of foreign citizens and stateless persons who have made public calls or actions that contradict the state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of Uzbekistan, provoke inter-state, national, or religious enmity, or discredit the honor, dignity, and history of the people of Uzbekistan to the “List of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons Whose Stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan is Considered Unacceptable” (hereinafter referred to as the List).
In particular, administrative expulsion from the country is introduced for foreign citizens or stateless persons (Article 351 of the Law).
Inclusion of a foreign citizen or stateless person in the List is carried out based on a submission from the Kengash of the Legislative Chamber, the Kengash of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, or specially authorized state bodies.
The List is maintained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Entry into the territory of Uzbekistan is prohibited for any foreign citizen or stateless person included in the List. They are also forbidden to open bank accounts, purchase real estate in Uzbekistan, participate in the privatization of state property, or enter into financial and contractual relations, except for the alienation of property owned by them.
The duration of a foreign citizen or stateless person's inclusion in the List is five years, and if the reasons for their inclusion are not resolved within this period, the duration of their stay in the List is extended by five years.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall notify the foreign citizen or stateless person (or their legal representative) about their inclusion in the List within three working days through the established procedures directly or via diplomatic channels.
A foreign citizen must voluntarily leave the country within 10 days from the date of receiving the notification about being included in the List. If they do not leave voluntarily within this time frame, they will be subject to deportation.
Deportation is understood as the forced expulsion from the country of a foreign citizen or stateless person included in the List, whose rights to reside and stay in the Republic of Uzbekistan on legal grounds have been revoked.
Deportation is carried out by the internal affairs bodies and other authorized agencies.
The document has been published in the National Database of Legislation and came into force on November 15, 2024.
Lola Abduazimova.