Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - Recently, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted a separate law aimed at further strengthening measures of responsibility for violation of the law on the protection and use of cultural heritage objects. After approval by the Senate of the Republic of Uzbekistan and signing by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, this law will enter into force.

The law was developed in accordance with the Roadmap for the fundamental improvement of the protection, preservation, research, popularization and rational use of material heritage sites for 2019-2021, approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated December 19, 2018.

The law adopted by the lower house of the Parliament of Uzbekistan envisages a norm, according to which the destruction or damage of tangible cultural heritage objects, taken under state protection that caused significant damage is punishable by a fine of one hundred to three hundred minimum wages or compulsory public works up to three hundred and sixty hours or correctional work up to three years.

In addition, the destruction or damage of tangible cultural heritage objects taken under state protection, causing major damage, entails a fine of three hundred to five hundred minimum wages or compulsory community service from three hundred sixty to four hundred eighty hours or restriction of freedom from one years to three years or imprisonment up to three years.

Also, the law envisages that the construction or destruction of buildings, structures and other objects that are not objects of tangible cultural heritage in specially protected historical and cultural territories and (or) inscribed on the World Heritage List for their historical and cultural value, without obtaining permission in the prescribed manner, committed after the application of an administrative penalty for the same actions, shall be punished with a fine of from one to three hundred minimum monthly wages or compulsory public labor works for three hundred sixty hours, or correctional labor up to three years.

At the same time, it is necessary to understand that simply adopting a law providing for very strict measures of responsibility does not guarantee the protection of the cultural and historical heritage without public control and strict law enforcement.

Along with tougher penalties and the introduction of criminal liability for such offenses, it is necessary to conduct daily explanatory work among the population and representatives of local authorities.

To this end, work has already begun on the ground to increase the “awareness” of the need to respect the cultural heritage of our country and penalties for damage to the cultural and historical heritage.

We urge all representatives of the media to join this work and explain the essence and significance of the adopted law among the public, so that respect for monuments of cultural and historical heritage becomes the duty of every citizen of our Motherland.