Liability will be established for those who finance criminal associations and organize illegal combat sports competitions
In Uzbekistan, liability for hooliganism and for severe bodily injury or death resulting from it will be strengthened. Criminal liability is being established for financing and sponsoring a criminal association, as well as for organizing illegal combat sports competitions. The Senate has approved the relevant law.
Those who finance criminal associations and organize illegal combat sports competitions will be held accountable
At the Senate's plenary session on October 2, a law aimed at further strengthening liability for organized crime and offenses against public order was reviewed. According to the document, relevant amendments and additions are expected to be made to the Criminal, Criminal Procedure, and Administrative Liability Codes.
According to the statistical data presented at the session, 119 individuals in 2024, 125 individuals in 2025, and 78 individuals during the eight months of 2026 committed the crime of intentional infliction of grievous bodily injury resulting in death. During the past period of 2024–2026, a total of 322 people died as a result of such crimes.
Burxanov emphasized that these figures indicate the need to improve legal measures of influence against violent crimes directed against human life and health, which lead to severe consequences.
The senator also pointed out that when studying the legislation of foreign countries, in some nations, the penalties established for intentional infliction of grievous bodily injury resulting in death are equated with the penalties provided for the crime of intentional homicide, and in some cases, even harsher penalties are established.
The draft law provides for norms aimed at covering the financial foundations of organized crime as well. Article 242 of the current Criminal Code establishes liability for organizing a criminal association, that is, creating a criminal association or its subdivisions, or leading it.
However, the current legislation does not provide for separate liability for sponsoring the creation of a criminal association or concealing crimes committed by it through the abuse of power or official authority.
In this regard, it is proposed to supplement the Criminal Code with a new Article 242-1, establishing liability for financing the activities of a criminal association. At the same time, if a person who participated in financing a criminal association timely reports to the competent authorities or otherwise actively assists in preventing the occurrence of grave consequences or the realization of the goals of the criminal association, and if their actions do not contain the elements of another crime, they may be exempted from criminal liability.
Additionally, it is established that parole (conditional early release) will not be applied to persons who financed the activities of a criminal association, or sponsored its creation or the concealment of crimes committed by the association through the abuse of power or official authority.
The law also provides for strengthening penalties for hooliganism. Committing hooliganism by causing damage in a particularly large amount, destroying or damaging someone else's property, as well as committing it by an organized group, will be established as aggravating circumstances.
Furthermore, it is proposed to aggravate liability for intentional infliction of grievous bodily injury as a result of hooliganism, as well as intentional infliction of grievous bodily injury resulting in the death of the victim.
Another new Article 277-1 is being introduced into the Criminal Code, providing for the establishment of liability for the unlawful organization or holding of sports competitions in combat sports.
It is also established that persons who have reached the age of 14 prior to committing the crime will be held criminally liable for committing the crime of hooliganism by an organized group.
According to the amendments being made to the Criminal Procedure Code, the preliminary investigation for crimes provided for in the new Article 242-1 of the Criminal Code (Organizing a criminal association) will be conducted by investigators of the prosecution authorities. The preliminary investigation for crimes under part four of Article 277 and the new Article 277-1 of the Criminal Code will be carried out by investigators of the internal affairs bodies.
The Code of Administrative Liability is also expected to be supplemented with a new Article 191-1. It establishes liability for participating in unlawfully organized sports competitions in combat sports. It is proposed that cases related to such offenses be reviewed by criminal courts.