Uzbekistan has raised fines for begging and for involving others in it under a law signed by the president Wednesday, with the new penalties taking effect the same day.
The amendments cover Article 188-3 of the Administrative Liability Code. The article defines begging as actively asking for money, food or other valuables on the street, on public transport or in other public places.
Begging is now punishable by a fine of 3 to 5 basic reference values (BRV=440,000 UZS, or US$ 37) or up to 15 days of administrative detention. Previously the fine was 1 to 3 BRVs, with the same maximum detention.
Drawing others into begging now carries a fine of 10 to 15 BRVs or up to 15 days of detention, up from 5 to 10 BRVs. The provision applies to those who involve minors, elderly people, people with mental disorders, people with disabilities and others. It also covers coercing people into begging by forcing them to consume alcohol or substances that are not narcotic or psychotropic but affect cognitive function and judgment.
Administrative and criminal liability for begging was implemented in Uzbekistan in early 2019.
Social policy expert Dilmurad Yusupov wrote in a column for Gazeta that year that tackling the problem requires a range of social services, systematic social work and support for objective academic research in the field.
