Authorities in Uzbekistan have officially enacted new legislative amendments designed to significantly increase criminal penalties for individuals who involve minors in antisocial behavior, substance abuse, and dangerous habits. The corresponding law was signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen child protection policies and combat juvenile delinquency across the country.

Under the revised provisions of the Criminal Code, financial penalties for involving minors in the consumption of alcohol, as well as substances affecting intellectual and volitional activity, have been heavily scaled up. Following the imposition of administrative measures for similar infractions, the fine has been raised from the previous range of 100–200 basic calculation units (equivalent to 44–88 million soums) to a harsher 150–250 BCUs, translating to approximately 66–110 million soums.

Furthermore, the legal reforms introduce much stricter alternative sentences. Courts are now authorized to mandate community service ranging from 360 to 400 hours, correctional labor for up to three years, or restrictions on freedom and imprisonment terms spanning from three to five years. For context, the maximum custodial sentence under the prior version of the law was strictly capped at three years.

The penalties become substantially more severe when minors are dragged into the use of narcotics, psychotropic substances, or potent analogues. The imprisonment term for such offenses has been extended from 3–5 years to 5–7 years. In cases involving aggravating circumstances—such as repeat offenses, crimes committed against two or more minors, incidents occurring on educational institution grounds, or actions resulting in fatalities and other severe consequences—offenders now face between 7 and 10 years behind bars.

Source: uznews.uz