The senator sharply criticized: Why is the judicial system going backwards?

At the plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Senator Abdurahim Erkaev made a speech on the current state of the judicial and legal system in our country and put forward critical views. Erkaev emphasized that despite the extensive reforms in the judicial and legal system implemented in the country in recent years, the expected results in this area have not been achieved, and on the contrary, Uzbekistan's position in international rankings has significantly decreased.

In 2023, a new edition of the Constitution was adopted in our country. This important document pays serious attention to the rule of law and the fair trial system. In particular, a separate chapter dedicated to the legal system was included in the Constitution, which was a novelty that is rarely found in world practice. At the same time, many new laws were adopted and the mechanism for protecting the rights and legitimate interests of citizens was strengthened. However, it is observed that not all these changes have yielded the expected results, and in some areas the situation has worsened.

According to the Global Justice Project's Rule of Law Index, Uzbekistan has fallen five places over the past year to 83rd place. Even more worrying is that the country has fallen from 96th to 106th place in terms of the ability to resolve civil disputes, which is part of the index. Senator Abdurakhim Erkayev said that this indicator indicates that it is becoming more difficult for citizens in Uzbekistan to access a fair trial, trust in the judicial system has eroded, and the principle of impartiality in the process of considering appeals is being violated.

"This situation indicates a serious decline in trust in the justice system in the country. In many cases, decisions issued by the courts are not implemented or are delayed. Such situations are also reflected in surveys conducted among the population," the senator said.

Abdurakhim Erkaev, speaking about the reasons for these negative results in international rankings, noted the low qualification level of some judges, corruption, and most worryingly, the ongoing "telephone rights," i.e., requests to judges from above.

Senator Erkaev emphasized that in order to solve these problems, it is necessary to decisively address the existing problems in the judicial system and to implement reforms in real life.

"The results of the work we have done in recent years are disappearing. This is a serious concern. We must take practical measures to ensure positive changes in the judicial system," said Abdurakhim Erkaev.

His speech may cause many discussions. We hope that this sharp criticism of the senator will be an impetus for future changes in the judicial system of the country. Eliminating the existing shortcomings in this area is of great importance for restoring the public's trust in the state and the justice system.