Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has approved at first reading a draft law introducing administrative liability for insults and hooliganism on the internet, Gazeta.uz reported on February 3.
The proposed legislation provides for fines and administrative arrests for the use of obscene language, offensive and indecent expressions, as well as other online actions that violate public order and disturb public peace.
According to lawmaker Khushvakht Hayitov, the bill would amend the Code of Administrative Responsibility by adding a new Article 183¹, regulating offenses committed via telecommunications networks and the internet.
“The initiative is driven by a rise in the widespread use of profanity, offensive language, and intrusive behavior on social media. These actions represent a deliberate and demonstrative violation of public moral norms and contribute to the spread of immorality, disrespect, and aggressive attitudes, particularly among young people,” Hayitov said.
The draft law was supported by Alisher Qadirov, a member of parliament and leader of the Milliy Tiklanish party. He said the bill proposes fines of up to 5 million soums (over $400) or administrative detention for up to 10 days for online hooliganism.
“It is impossible to fight ignorance through education alone — penalties are also necessary. That is why we supported the bill,” Qadirov said.
The draft law will be revised ahead of its second reading.
Currently, Uzbekistan already has a similar provision — Article 183 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility — which defines petty hooliganism as deliberate disregard for rules of public conduct, including the use of obscene language in public places, insulting harassment of citizens, and other actions that disrupt public order and peace.
Penalties under the existing article include fines ranging from three to five base calculation units (approximately 1.24 million to 2.06 million soums) or administrative arrest for up to 15 days.
