In the recent years, Uzbekistan’s judicial-legal system has gone through a process of deep reformation and liberalization. This year alone, a number of measures to further democratize judicial and legal sphere has been implemented.

Since the beginning of 2008, laws on abolishment of the death penalty and the introduction of the Habeas Corpus institute came into force, as well as changes have been introduced in a number of laws aimed at liberalizing the criminal punishment system, democratization of the courts and other law enforcement agencies.

The systematic work to reform the judicial system is inextricably linked with the processes of democratic renewal of society, since large-scale democratic reforms currently carried out in the economic, political, humanitarian and other spheres of the country cannot be implemented without liberalization and democratization of the judicial system.

The President’s Resolution "On creation of the Research centre for democratization and liberalization of the judicial legislation and guaranteeing the independence of the judicial system" is a continuation of the deep democratic reforms in the judiciary and legal system in Uzbekistan, aimed at improving the judicial practices, strengthening the authority of the courts and their independence, raising the efficiency of judicial activities to ensure the rule of law and the protection of the rights and interests of the people.

The resolution states that the new institution, created under the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, is firstly a research center, whose task is not simply holding seminars and conferences. It is a functional structure in the Supreme Court system, which has the necessary authority to deal with its main tasks: analysis of the state and preparation of proposals for liberalization and democratization, as well as ensuring the independence of the judiciary.

The Research center is directly subordinated to the chairman of the Supreme Court and works in close collaboration with the divisions of the Supreme Court, Supreme Economic Court, Justice Ministry and other government agencies.

The newly created center will also work to develop cooperation with international and foreign organizations, analysis and formulation of for implementation of universally recognized principles and norms of international law in judicial activity. Implementation of this task will allow using the experience of developed countries and international legal institutions in reforming the judicial system and improving the related legislation.