On December 25, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Bill introducing punishment for disseminating false information into Law. While, the Law abolishes imprisonment for libel and insult. The Bill was passed by the Legislative Chamber on December 15 and approved by the Senate on December 19. It took effect immediately, on December 26.

Dissemination of false information

The Code of Administrative Responsibility has been supplemented with Article 202-2 “Dissemination of false information”. According to it, the dissemination of false information, including in the media, or the Internet, which humiliates a person's dignity or discredits a person, is punishable by a fine in the amount of 50 basic calculated values (BCV=US$ 21). Dissemination of false information containing a threat to public order or security is punishable by a fine of 50 to 100 BCVs.

The Criminal Code has been supplemented with article 244-6 “Dissemination of false information”. According to this article, the dissemination of false information that led to the humiliation of a person's dignity or discrediting a person, committed after the application of an administrative penalty for the same actions, is punishable by a fine of up to 150 BCVs or compulsory community works of up to 240 hours, or correctional work up to 2 years or house arrest up to 2 years old.

Dissemination of false information containing a threat to public order or security, in the absence of signs of a crime provided for in Article 244-1 of the Criminal Code ("Production, storage, distribution or display of materials containing a threat to public safety and public order"), committed after the application of an administrative penalty for such the same action, is punishable by a fine of up to 200 BCVs or compulsory community service up to 300 hours or correctional labor up to 2 years or house arrest up to 2 years.

The above actions, committed repeatedly or by a dangerous recidivist or causing major damage, are punishable by a fine of 200 to 300 BRV or restraint of liberty from 1 to 3 years. If these actions are committed during mass events or in an emergency, causing especially large damage or other grave consequences, committed by an organized group or in its interests, a fine from 200 to 400 BCVs or house arrest from 2 to 3 years is provided.

Libel

The updated article 139 ("Libel") of the Criminal Code states that libel in print or otherwise reproduced, including posted in the media, or the Internet, is punishable by a fine from 200 to 400 BCVs or compulsory community service from 300 to 360 hours or correctional labor from 2 to 3 years or house arrest up to 1 year. Previously, the maximum sanction for this act was imprisonment for up to one year.

Libel combined with an accusation of committing a grave or especially grave crime, entailing grave consequences, committed by a dangerous recidivist, is punishable by a fine from 300 to 500 BCVs or compulsory community service from 360 to 400 hours or by restriction of freedom from 1 year to 3 years. The previous version of the article also provided for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 3 years.

Insult

The updated part 3 of article 140 of the Criminal Code ("Insult") also omits punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to a year for insult in connection with the performance of the victim of his official or civil duty, or inflicted by a dangerous repeat offender or a person previously convicted of libel. This act is punishable by a fine from 400 to 600 BCVs or correctional labor from 2 to 3 years, or house arrest up to 1 year.