The President of Uzbekistan has signed a decree introducing a new legal principle into relations between businesses and the state — the “presumption in favor of business entities.” Under this principle, an entrepreneur is presumed to have acted lawfully unless a government authority proves otherwise.
Key mechanisms:
→ The burden of proof for any alleged violation rests with the government authority.
→ Ambiguities in legislation are to be interpreted in favor of the entrepreneur.
→ A government authority may review its decision within 30 days, after which legal enforcement measures may no longer be applied.
The decree also simplifies the return of bail in criminal cases, introduces penalty interest based on the Central Bank rate for delays, and provides for compensation for material and moral damages to rehabilitated individuals from a dedicated fund.
