Punishments for organized crime and hooliganism will be toughened

At a meeting of Oliy Majlis deputies, a new draft law aimed at strengthening the fight against organized crime and lawbreaking in public places was discussed. Zamin.uz reported this.

Parliament members noted that there are certain shortcomings in current legislation, resulting in lenient penalties for hooliganism committed by organized groups. It was pointed out that this situation is leading to the formation of wrong perceptions in society and an increase in a climate of impunity.

According to the new draft law, liability for the crime of hooliganism is being significantly toughened. The document provides for stricter penalties for cases committed repeatedly by a group of persons, where weapons were used, or where resistance was offered to employees of law enforcement agencies.

Within the framework of the proposed changes, the relevant article of the Criminal Code will be supplemented with a new section. Accordingly, a penalty of 8 to 10 years of imprisonment will be introduced for hooliganism committed by an organized group or resulting in grievous bodily harm.

In comparison, under current laws, such crimes carried a maximum prison sentence of up to 8 years. Additionally, strict measures will be taken against individuals who use their official powers to support criminal groups.

For such persons, the possibility of conditional early release may be restricted. However, it was stated that if a person provides advance notice about the activities of a criminal group and helps prevent severe consequences, they may be exempted from liability.

Another important aspect of the draft law is the introduction of criminal liability for illegally organizing or conducting combat sports competitions. According to analytical data, several illegal MMA and similar competitions have been identified in recent times.

At the end of the discussions, this draft law was approved in the first reading. The document is expected to be reviewed more extensively in subsequent stages before a final decision is made.