Senate passes law introducing 5-year entry ban for foreigners who undermine Uzbekistan’s sovereignty and insult its national integrity

The Senate reviewed the law "On Amendments and Additions to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan."

According to Senator Anvar Toychiev, a member of the Committee on International Relations, Foreign Economic Relations, Foreign Investments, and Tourism, recently some foreign nationals have made public statements or taken actions that contradict the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of Uzbekistan. These acts incite international, national, and religious hatred and insult the honor, dignity, and history of the Uzbek people.

According to the law, a list will now be maintained of foreign citizens and stateless persons deemed undesirable in Uzbekistan. Foreign citizens or stateless persons who make public statements or take actions that undermine Uzbekistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security, as well as incite international, social, national, racial, or religious hatred or insult the honor, dignity, or history of the Uzbek people, will be added to this list.

The procedures for maintaining the list of undesirable foreign citizens and stateless persons will be established by the Cabinet of Ministers and managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The list will be based on submissions from the chambers of the Oliy Majlis and specialized government bodies.

Foreign citizens or stateless persons included in the list will be prohibited from entering Uzbekistan for a specific period and will face several restrictions. In particular, they will be banned from entering the country for five years, opening bank accounts, purchasing real estate, participating in the privatization of state property, and engaging in financial and contractual relations.

However, the sale or donation of private property located in Uzbekistan and owned by persons on the list remains an exception to these prohibitions.

If a foreign citizen or stateless person included in the list is residing or temporarily staying in Uzbekistan, they will be given 10 days to leave the country. If they fail to do so within the specified period, they will be deported by the internal affairs authorities according to established procedures.

The term of being on the list for foreign citizens or stateless persons is five years. If the reasons for their inclusion are addressed within this period, they may be removed from the list early.

The law was approved by the Senate and sent to the president.