The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Economy and Finance have reportedly developed a joint draft resolution establishing standardized tariffs for long-term visiting rooms, remote video calls, and telephone conversations in the country's penal institutions. The document has been published for public review, introducing a rigid financial framework for communication between inmates and their families.
Key Takeaways: Under the proposed rules, daily rates for visiting rooms will range from 20% to 30% of the basic calculation unit (BCU) depending on capacity, while video calls will cost 0.5% of the BCU per minute and phone calls 0.1% of the BCU per minute. Specific vulnerable groups will allegedly be exempt from room fees, though digital communication channels remain fully priced.
According to the draft text, room pricing is strictly tied to capacity and the active BCU on the payment date. A 24-hour stay in a double room will cost 20% of the BCU, a triple room 25%, and a four-person room 30%. Crucially, even if the room is used for less than a full day, the user will reportedly be charged for the entire 24-hour period. Remote video and audio communication durations will be automatically tracked via the centralized 'Qal’a' information system, with fractional minutes billed proportionally to actual connection time.
Financial transactions are also subject to tighter regulations. Long-term room fees must be settled exclusively through cashless methods—such as bank cards or electronic payment systems—prior to the meeting, with staff strictly prohibited from handling physical cash. Meanwhile, fees for video and phone interactions will be automatically deducted from the inmate's personal account. If funds are insufficient, the communication session will reportedly be truncated to match the available balance.
The initiative purportedly includes exemptions from room fees for certain vulnerable demographics, including inmates themselves, children under 16, Group I disabled individuals, and families registered in the Social Register. However, these exemptions do not apply to remote video sessions or phone calls. Officials claim that funds for cancelled or disrupted sessions caused by technical failures in the 'Qal’a' system will be refunded to the inmate's personal account.
Source: www.uznews.uz