The Address of the President of Uzbekistan is a unique practice in the history of New Uzbekistan.

In accordance with Article 93 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the President has the right to apply to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the most important issues of the implementation of the domestic and foreign policy of the country.

The address, in essence, embodied the connectivity of the people and the state, ideas and views regarding the introduction of historical experience in the formation of statehood based on modern methods.

We want to focus on some of the tasks set before the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, deputies and senators in the Address.

First. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposes as the first direction the transition in 2023 – the Year of Human Care and Quality Education – to a compact and efficient management system to expand opportunities and open up new prospects for private initiatives, to move from the so-called “manual” management to a systematic one aimed at a specific result. As part of the new administrative reforms they have been preparing for a long time, ministries will be reformed at the first stage, and the government's working style will radically change. The number of ministries and agencies will be reduced from 61 to 28. Each ministry will be responsible for the implementation of state policy in the relevant field, managing committees, agencies and inspections. In the course of the reform, many ministers will be replaced, only those who are deeply knowledgeable in their field, selfless, who have achieved the support of the people will remain.

The number of civil servants will be gradually reduced by 30-35 percent, and the saved funds will be used to solve social issues. During the implementation of administrative reforms, it is necessary to make changes and additions to many existing laws. This will require the Government to carefully develop a plan for the preparation of draft laws, and from the chambers of Parliament – a comprehensive and systematic consideration of draft laws submitted to the Legislative Chamber, their adoption and approval.

Second. The Address specifically mentions the most urgent problem – corruption, that over the past two years, almost five thousand officials have been brought to justice for corruption crimes. It was emphasized that this is a fight against consequences, not causes. Proceeding from this, the Head of the state calls on deputies, senators, and councils to sound the alarm, analyze specific areas, and be active in eradicating corruption.

Third. Economic reforms will be resolutely continued, support for the private sector will increase, and internal capabilities will be fully mobilized for this. New approaches will be introduced to reduce economic inequality between regions and the balanced development of all districts and cities. Starting next year, districts and cities will be divided into five categories based on the existing conditions, potential and opportunities. Based on a specific category, entrepreneurs will be allocated subsidies, loans and compensation. Tax rates will also be differentiated.

Work will continue to reduce the tax burden on businesses. In particular, due to the reduction of the value-added tax rate from 15 to 12 percent from January 1, at least 14 trillion UZS per year will remain at the disposal of entrepreneurs. This means that the chambers of the Oliy Majlis in the field of lawmaking, together with the Government, based on best practices, should pay attention to improving tax and customs administration.

Fourth. Reliable protection of human rights and freedoms is defined as the state's constitutional obligation. In a short time, a system will be created that will teach law enforcement agencies to work in a new way, improve the quality of the administration of justice. In places, situations will be eliminated when people are forced to turn to one or another judicial instance. Under the new system, sanctions for search, wiretapping and seizure of property will be transferred from the prosecutor's office to the courts. From now on, the investigator will not be able to seize property under the pretext of attributing it to evidence of a crime. From now on, any actions to restrict property rights will be carried out only through the court. A separate corps of prosecutors will be formed to participate in the consideration of cases in court. They will receive special training, and the requirement of their impartiality and independence in the process of judicial proceedings will be enshrined in law.

The rights of defenders in the administration of justice will be reviewed, their powers will be expanded. According to the new procedure, the courts will accept a criminal case not only with an indictment, but also with the opinion of the defense. To create the legal foundations of this system, the Chambers of the Oliy Majlis, together with the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General's Office, the Chamber of Lawyers and the general public, jointly organize work on making additions and amendments to international legal norms, laws on the bar and the Prosecutor's Office. A system will be introduced in which each case of refusal of the accused from a lawyer is subject to a careful study by the prosecutor and the court.

Foziljon Otakhonov,

Director of the Institute for Legislative Problems and Parliamentary Studies, Doctor of Law, Professor.

UzA