Uzbekistan: Those who involve children in drug use could face up to 10 years in prison

Uzbekistan has announced that people who involve minors in drug use could face up to 10 years of deprivation of liberty. The provision is set out in a law aimed at strengthening the protection of children from violence, which was signed by the President. Under the law, criminal liability for involving minors in drugs and psychotropic substances has been sharply increased.

Amendments to the relevant articles of the Criminal Code raised fines for involving minors in alcohol or substances affecting mental and volitional activity to 150 to 250 base amounts. Penalties now also include 360 to 400 hours of compulsory community service, up to 3 years of corrective labour, or 3 to 5 years of restriction of liberty or deprivation of liberty.

For involving minors in narcotics, psychotropic substances, their analogues or certain strong-acting substances, the term of deprivation of liberty has been increased to 5 to 7 years of imprisonment. Penalties of 7 to 10 years of deprivation of liberty may apply if the crime is repeated, committed against two or more minors, committed on the premises of an educational institution, or results in death or other serious consequences. The law also provides for up to 25 years of deprivation of liberty or life imprisonment for sexual violence against children under 14.