A meeting of the faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan was held in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. Deputies first considered the draft law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the state budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020”.

Difficult conditions and crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic have complicated the financial situation around the world. International financial institutions have to help many countries around the world.

According to the proposed amendment to the law on the state budget, the limited amount of new agreements to be signed on behalf of the Republic of Uzbekistan (the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan) or under guarantees of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2020 is proposed to be determined in the amount of $5.5 billion, in particular the amount to finance measures not related to the support of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the implementation of projects, it is proposed to determine in the amount of $2.5 billion.

PDPU faction members noted that during the pandemic, special attention is paid to financing the social sphere, supporting the low-income population. This approach is fully consistent with the party program goals.

Taking into account the above, after questions and answers, members of the faction approved the draft law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Law “On the state budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020”.

The next issue on the agenda, the draft law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Criminal, Criminal Procedure Codes of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, caused debates and discussions among the deputies.

It was noted that some of the norms provided for in this draft law are necessary, while others require a democratic approach in terms of openness and the right to express one’s opinion.

For example, the draft law provides for the introduction in the Code of Administrative Responsibility for the posting in the media, telecommunication networks or the Internet of information that promotes violence or cruelty.

According to the current version of the Code, for the production, distribution, advertising and demonstration of products that promote violence or cruelty, it is proposed to determine a fine for citizens in the amount of 50 to 100 times the size of the base calculated value, for officials from 100 to 150 times the size of the BCV.

According to the new draft law, it is proposed to determine a fine for such actions, for citizens in the amount of 50 to 400 times the size of the base calculated value, for officials from 100 to 450 times the size of the BCV.

The deputies noted the need for strengthening the responsibility for the dissemination and promotion of information through the Internet and social networks that negatively affects the consciousness of people, especially children and youth.

Deputies of the lower chamber propose to establish administrative responsibility for the deliberate posting in telecommunication and Internet networks of inaccurate information that humiliates the honor and dignity of a person. According to them, the current legislation provides for direct criminal prosecution of the person who committed such an act, and the proposed draft law provides for criminal prosecution only if the person repeatedly commits such an act within 1 year after the previous bringing to administrative responsibility.

Dissemination of defamatory information, including defamation or degrading honor and dignity of a person, including through the media, telecommunications or the Internet, is punishable by a fine of up to fifty times the base calculated value.

Members of the faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan emphasized the importance of improving the legislation in this direction, especially now, when consistent reforms are being carried out in the country to ensure transparency of information, strengthen guarantees of freedom of speech and belief.

At the same time, opinions and judgments were expressed that freedom of speech and belief requires a serious and careful approach, and that in this process it is very important to take into account the experience of developed states and international legal norms.

Deputies spoke out against the fact that the amount of fines for some administrative offenses is set in the amount of two hundred to four hundred and fifty times the size of BCV. Deputies of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan noted that the size of the fines should be based on the real income of the population. The draft laws were approved by deputies based on the proposals.