President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, signed a law on March 15th amending the Criminal Code and Code of Administrative Responsibility to liberalize penalties for certain categories of criminal offenses related to drones. The changes will come into effect in three months, as announced by the Customs Committee press service.
According to the law, individuals accused for the first time of illegal import, sale, acquisition, storage, or use of drones will face administrative, not criminal, responsibility. Confiscation of drones identified in administrative offenses will be enforced, and individuals voluntarily surrendering drones and related parts will be exempt from liability. Cases of administrative offenses in this category will be considered by criminal courts.
The updated Article 244-4 of the Criminal Code, regarding illegal import, sale, acquisition, storage, or use of drones, now includes alternative penalties such as fines, corrective labor, and freedom restrictions. The minimum penalty currently is imprisonment for up to 3 years (individuals surrendering drones voluntarily are exempt from liability), with a maximum of 10 years in aggravated circumstances.
The changes are expected to reduce drone-related offenses and increase foreign tourists in Uzbekistan. In the past, foreign citizens have been detained for drone imports, often due to lack of awareness. Senators noted during the law's discussion in January that the amendments are part of country reforms aimed at democratizing and liberalizing the judicial system, as well as strengthening legality in society.
The complete ban on drone import and use was imposed in Uzbekistan in 2015. Temporary drone imports, including for filming tourism content, were allowed from May 2018 for foreign creative groups. In 2019, criminal liability was introduced for illegal drone activities, excluding transit with mandatory declaration.
In May 2020, a video operator planning to use a drone for shooting a music video in Andijan was conditionally sentenced to three years with one year probation. In February 2022, Russian travel blogger Maxim Lymar was detained in Bukhara airport for carrying a quadcopter. In June 2022, Russian tourist Polina Ermakova was detained in Tashkent days after entering Uzbekistan for drone import, though she was later acquitted, her drone was confiscated.
The easing of penalties for drone import and use was part of Uzbekistan's state program for 2023.
