Uzbekistan may soften the penalty for importing drones

In Uzbekistan, the established responsibility for the illegal use of drones is being mitigated. The bill providing for this was discussed at the next meeting of the NDP faction in the lower house of parliament. 

”The fact that today, when importing drones by citizens and foreign tourists, criminal cases are initiated against them and procedural actions are carried out, causes acute public discussions and discussions on the Internet, negatively affects the image of our country," the deputies noted.

The situation is planned to be mitigated by the adoption of the law”On amendments and additions to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Administrative Responsibility in connection with the liberalization of responsibility for Certain Categories of criminal acts."

This document supplements the Code of Administrative Responsibility with article 185-4, which provides for administrative responsibility for the commission of actions for the illegal import, transfer, receipt, storage or use of unmanned aerial vehicles, their components and spare parts.

Also, to the sanctions provided for in Article 244-4 of the Criminal Code, such types of punishments as alternative fines, correctional labor, restriction of freedom are added.

According to the initiators of the bill, the adoption of the draft will mitigate the protest moods that arise in society today, without changing the established rules for the import and use of unmanned aerial vehicles on the territory of Uzbekistan.

For your information, according to the current Criminal Code, the illegal import, transfer, acquisition, storage or use of unmanned aerial vehicles, their components and spare parts is punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 years.