INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 66

April 5, 2017

THE STATE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN TO RUSSIA
President Mirziyoyev arrived in Moscow

SOCIETY
President approves legislation amendments

TOURISM
The first ever free tourist zone is likely to be established in Uzbekistan in the next three years

THE STATE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN TO RUSSIA

President Mirziyoyev arrived in Moscow
On 4 April President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Moscow on a state visit at the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
A guard of honor was lined up for the high-level guest at the Vnukuvo-2 airport, decorated with the state flags of the two countries. The Head of our state was greeted by the members of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin will discuss the issues of reinforcing strategic partnership and allied relations between Uzbekistan and Russia, prospects of developing the mutually beneficial cooperation in political, trade-economic, investment, transport-communications, scientific-technical, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres, will exchange views on regional and international problems.
A Joint declaration of the Presidents of the two states, over 50 documents, aimed at further developing cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia in various spheres are expected to be signed during the state visit.
On 3 April, a signing ceremony of Uzbekistan-Russia documents took place at the Embassy of our country in Moscow within the framework of the preparatory works for the state visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Russia. The authorized representatives of the parties signed 17 bilateral agreements, contracts and other documents in trade-economic and investment spheres for a total amount of over 3,5 billion US dollars.
The main events of the visit are planned for 5 April.
(Source: UzA)

SOCIETY

President approves legislation amendments
Uzbeksitan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed on 29 March the Law ‘On Amendments and Addenda to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan Associated with Additional Measures for Ensuring Human Rights and Freedoms’.
The document was passed by the Legislative Chamber on 17 March and approved by the Senate on 28 March.
The law was prepared under the 21 October Presidential Decree ‘On Further Reforming of Judicial and Legal System and Strengthening Human Rights and Freedoms’.
The law is set to democratise and liberalise judicial and legal system, improve law enforcement, promote the justice system, and ensure the rule of law.
The law amended the Criminal, Criminal Procedural, Civil Procedural, and Penal Codes, as well as the Laws ‘On Courts’ and ‘On Prosecution Office’.
The changes repealed arrests and introduced a more lenient penalty of community services. Suspects will now be detained for up to 48 hours, as opposed to previous 72 hours. The accused will be placed in custody or under house arrest for 7 months, instead of 12 months.
The law broadens the scope of habeas corpus, a legal doctrine, and tightens judicial control in criminal law.
Under the law, courts are now at the liberty to choose alternative sentences.
Rulings on civil cases can now be reviewed within one year, instead of three years.
The law also introduced organisational changes for criminal and civil cases.
The Supreme Court’s Plenum and Presidium no more overlap each other.
The law will enter into force on 1 April 2017.
(Source: UzReport.uz)

TOURISM

The first ever free tourist zone is likely to be established in Uzbekistan in the next three years
The State Committee for Tourism, municipality of Bukhara region and the National Bank for Foreign Economic Relations have developed proposals on the establishment of a free tourist zone.
The new zone will be built in the heart of Bukhara and be entitled Bokiy Bukhoro (Eternal Bukhara). It is envisaged to build various class hotels there, entertainment and trade facilities, including an amphitheater for 500 seats, bowling clubs, dance clubs, souvenir and other kinds of shops, karaoke bars, cafes and restaurants offering national and world’s popular cuisines.
Creation of a tourist zone requires establishment of an investment company with the participation of foreign partners to act as main donors of the project in partnership with the National Bank. The tourist zone will be subject to the entire list of benefits provided for free economic zones to attract foreign companies, that is, it will be completely exempt from virtually all taxes and customs payments, depending on the amount invested.
It is scheduled to launch construction works as early as 1 July 2017, and ensure the commissioning of first-stage facilities by March 2018.
Another interesting initiative comes to construction of the first handicraft cluster in the historical part of Bukhara on the territory of the Shahristan market. It is envisaged to be a block of artisans and an indoor market consisting of two-storey buildings with traditional handicraft workshops, stores and small shops of national souvenirs, books, gold embroidery articles, fruits and vegetables, sweets and other products that are popular among tourists.
Asaka Bank will be the main financial donor of the project. It will establish a subsidiary investment company, build its charter capital and staff it with qualified personnel. Local architects and masters who have the experience of building similar structures using the traditions of national architecture will be involved in the design and construction of facilities.
Places in the cluster will be sold to artisans through commercial and mortgage lending. The cluster and the Bokiy Bukhoro zone will provide free Wi-Fi.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

Reference to the source is a must in reproducing materials