TASHKENT. July 5 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed amendments to the law on political parties banning the creation and activity of foreign political parties and their branches in Uzbekistan.
The amendments were adopted by the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek Parliament on June 11, approved by the Senate on June 22, and signed by the president into law on July 2. The document, published in the national legislative database after being signed by the president, took effect on July 4.
"An addition to the law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on political parties prohibits the establishment and activity of political parties of foreign states and their branches on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan," the document preamble says.
No foreign parties are operating in Uzbekistan at present, however, this has not been the law.
The amendments prohibit persons with permanent residence permits abroad to serve as the parliament members. The document also says that the parliament members will lose their seats if they fail to participate in the activity of the respective chamber, political party faction, committee or commission for more than 30 days without a valid reason.
There are five registered political parties in Uzbekistan, namely, the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen - the Liberal Democratic Party, the Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Democratic Party, the Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party, the People's Democratic Party, and the Ecological Party.
The term of office of the Legislative Chamber, formed in December 2019, expires at the end of 2024, while the Senate's term will expire in January 2025.