In recent years, a number of positive
reforms have been carried out in the field of protection of private property
rights in Uzbekistan. These positive changes serve to improve the investment
and business environment, thereby further increasing
the investment attractiveness of the country.
In this regard, if we pay attention
to the historical evolution
of the development of property rights in the territory of Uzbekistan, the
emergence of these relations has its long history.
Evolution of the
formation of property rights on the territory
of Uzbekistan
In particular, the first forms of property rights in Uzbekistan were mentioned in the sacred book of Zoroastrianism “Avesto”, according to which property rights were classified into three types: private, public and state property. All these forms of ownership were protected by the state in accordance with the established rules.[1]
After that, the further development of ownership forms was associated with the penetration of Islam in the territory of Uzbekistan. Muslim law clearly defined the forms of property rights, the legal status of movable and immovable property, and the protection of property owners by the state.[2]
The process of initial codification
of property rights in the territory
of Uzbekistan was carried out in the 1920s, which mainly reflected the forms of
state ownership.
Property rights in independent Uzbekistan.
The inviolability of private property in independent Uzbekistan and its state protection are first of all enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The main goal of all reforms since independence is to protect the personal, social, economic and political rights and freedoms of the people.
Article 36 of the Constitution of the
Republic of Uzbekistan[3], which
is the legal, economic and moral basis for the implementation of reforms,
states
that everyone has the right to own property, and Article 44[4] states
that Everyone shall be entitled to legally defend his rights and freedoms, and
shall have the right to appeal any unlawful action of state bodies, officials
and public associations.
This is the encyclopedic recognition of the desire to live a decent life and
enjoy results of his abilities and labor as an owner.
The adoption of the Civil Code of the
Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as
the laws “On property in the Republic of Uzbekistan” in 1990[5] and
“On protection of private property and guarantees of property rights”
in 2012[6] has
played a historic role in ensuring and guaranteeing the protection of property
rights.
The fact that the article 166 of
Civil Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan[7] provides
for the inviolability and judicial protection of property, and the article 1921
of Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan[8] defines
the protection of private property from encroachment as one of the most
important objects, is a clear confirmation of the existence of a solid legal
basis for property protection
in Uzbekistan.
Enhancing protection of private property in new Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan’s Development Strategy on
five priority areas for 2017-2021, adopted by the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
identifies strengthening the guarantees
of citizens’ rights to private property as one of the important tasks.[9]
Besides that, new legal acts have
recently been adopted in order to strengthen the protection of property rights
in Uzbekistan, including the Decree of the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan dated July 27, 2018 No. 5490 “On measures to further improve the
system of protection of the rights and legitimate interests of business
entities”[10],
the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated August 3,
2019 No. 5491 “On additional measures to ensure the unconditional
guarantee of property rights of citizens and businesses”[11], as
well as the Decree
of the Cabinet of Ministers dated November 16, 2019 No-911 “Additional measures
on ensuring guarantees of property rights of individuals and legal entities
and improving the procedure for withdrawal and compensation of land plots”[12].
Additionally, New law of the Republic
of Uzbekistan “On amendments
and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in
connection with further strengthening the guarantees of property rights and
legitimate interests” was adopted on 23 December, 2020[13].
This Law has made relevant amendments
to the laws of the Republic
of Uzbekistan “On denationalization and privatization”, “On
local government”,
“On protection of private property and guarantees of property rights”
and the Land Code, which are designed to ensure protection of private property
rights
in Uzbekistan.
The main essence and purpose of such
measures is to ensure the guarantee
of property rights and improve the legal framework in this regard, but also to form citizens’ legal ability and
awareness to know How to protect their rights
as owners.
The role of legal literacy in property relations.
The scale and effectiveness of the work, directed to improve people’s legal awareness and culture, in particular, legal literacy in property relations, is growing day by day.
The exercise of a property rights can
cause some conflicts between actors
of this process, because it is mainly connected with conflict of interests. In
this case, the protection of the rights of honest and conscientious
participants in property relations is largely due to their strict adherence to
the legal norms, governing
this process.
Indeed, property relations play a key
role between individuals in our life and such relations are, of course, encountered
with someone every day, in one form
or another. Naturally, there are sometimes misunderstandings, disputes and
various conflicts between the participants when entering into such
relationships.
If we pay attention to the causes of these disputes, there are some following common cases:
– parties are not fully familiar with the legislation on property issues;
– indifferent attitude to the performance of contractual obligations;
– parties do not fully
understand their rights and obligations under the law
or contract.
Especially, people or legal entities
are more likely to make mistakes
in the field of privatization, sale, lease, gift, bequest, mortgaging,
distribution
or separation of joint property because procedures are relatively complicated.
The relevant legislation also provides for specific procedures and procedural actions in the consideration of applications to the courts on this category of disputes, which, if the parties are not sufficiently aware of them, may face certain difficulties in protecting their property rights in court.
However, in spite of complexity of
these procedures, it is the responsibility
of the participants in this process to know and follow the requirements of the
law, which first and foremost, will serve the interests of these individuals to
protect their rights.
Measures to put end land acquisition for public needs without court decisions and fair, full and prompt compensation.
In addition, as it was already
mentioned that currently a number of laws
are being adopted or the existing legislation is being developed by amendments
and additions which are directed to the improvement of property relations,
further strengthening of contract discipline.
However, land acquisition for public
needs, as well as the demolition
of facilities located on the confiscated land plot, has become a topical issue
in many countries including Uzbekistan too. It should be mentioned that
inadequate legal regulation of these issues often leads to protests among the
population.
The Government of Uzbekistan has adopted the Resolution “On the procedure for land acquisition and compensation of owners of real estate located on the seized land” on November 16, 2019 No 911 in order to eliminate such kinds of problems. As a result, a new procedure has been established to regulate this process and ensure compensation for real estate owners. This regulation came into force on January 1, 2020 and regulates a number of issues related to land acquisition for public needs.
However, these aforementioned issues still need to be
addressed
at the legislative level to strengthen the property rights of individuals and
legal entities in the seizure of land for public needs in Uzbekistan. Taking
into account this facts, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan
has started to work out the draft law of Uzbekistan to reinforce strong
regulation of procedures on land acquisition for public needs to be paid fair,
full and prompt compensation.
Main objective of this draft law is
to establish exact payment of fair,
full and prompt compensation for land acquisition for
public needs to individuals and legal entities as an owner or permanent or
temporary user of this land. As a result
of its adoption, it is expected to regulate all procedures in this sphere by a
single law, which will be designed to prevent conflicts and effectively resolve
disputes
in this area, to strengthen the protection of the rights and legitimate
interests
of landowners.
In conclusion, we think that it would
not be an exaggeration to say that property rights on the territory of
Uzbekistan have been formed for many centuries, and today it has become a
fundamental value. Because all ongoing fundamental
and democratic reforms are mainly directed to enhance the protection of human
rights, ensure the inevitability of private property, in short, to provide
prosperity
of a rule of law in the country on the basis of democratic principles.
Sardor Mannonov,
Lawyer