UNODC issues analytical report on judicial control at the pretrial stage in Uzbekistan 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has published a research paper “Judicial control at the pretrial stage in the criminal procedure of Uzbekistan”. The paper reviews the articles of the draft Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (CPC) concerning judicial control at the stage of pre-trial proceedings. The purpose of the analysis  is to examine the extent of compliance of certain provisions of the new draft CPC with the major standards of human rights in criminal proceedings, enshrined in international law, the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and legislation of certain foreign countries. Based on comparative analysis, the paper discusses the possibility of introducing a new procedural figure in the criminal process – an investigative judge, whose role is to ensure due process at the pre-trial stage. In this manner, judicial control is strengthened to guarantee habeas corpus rights and ensure equality of arms at the pre-trial stage of criminal proceedings. This publication is intended to provide recommendations to the expert working group involved in the development of the new draft Criminal Procedure Code, as well as to representatives of the legal profession and academic circles interested in the issues of criminal procedure.

Improving the country's criminal legislation is one of the priorities of Uzbekistan to ensure the rule of law and protection of human rights and freedoms, the interests of society and the state within the framework of current large-scale judicial and legal reforms in the country.

UNODC assists the Government of Uzbekistan in the implementation of criminal justice reform through capacity building activities for national institutions as well as expert advice with support from the United States Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.