The Legislative Chamber at its meeting on Tuesday passed amendments to Article 244 of the Criminal Code (Mass riots) and sent it to the Senate.

The current legislation provides for criminal liability for organizing mass riots, active participation in them and the use of violence against citizens.

The proposed amendments to Article 244 of the Criminal Code shall entail criminal liability for undergoing training for the purpose of committing mass riots and for financing their organization.

On December 11, the bill was approved in the first reading without questions. On December 24, the MP Saidullo Azimov reported that no conceptual changes were made to the draft, and the comments were of a legal and technical nature.

The amendments proposed a fine of 300 to 600 basic calculation units (BCU) (from 112.5 million to 225 million soums), correctional labor for up to 3 years, or imprisonment for 5 to 7 years for undergoing training for the purpose of organizing mass riots, including obtaining knowledge, practical skills and abilities in organizing mass riots, as well as studying methods of handling weapons, explosive devices, explosives, poisonous and other dangerous substances and objects for others.

Person who has committed a crime under this part of the article shall be relieved from criminal liability if he voluntarily reports the planned riots to the authorities, helps solve the committed crime, and also actively helps identify other persons who underwent training, organized, conducted or financed the training, as well as establish the location of its holding, provided that his actions do not constitute another crime.

MP Mukaddashon Akhmedova asked if there were time limits for informing the authorities about the training and avoiding criminal liability.

Saidullo Azimov underscored that persons who committed this crime must voluntarily notify law enforcement agencies before the crime is detected.

MP Diyor Khusanov asked a question regarding the liability of persons who train others to organize mass riots. Azimov pointed out that such persons are already subject to a more severe punishment under Part 3 of Article 244 of the Criminal Code and training shall be deemed to be as the organizing of mass riots.

While, a provision is being inserted to Part 2 of the article regarding financing. In particular, the organization or financing of mass riots accompanied by violence against a person, pogroms, arson, damage or destruction of property, resistance to a government official with the use or threat of use of weapons or other objects used as weapons, as well as active participation in mass riots. It provides for a punishment in the form of imprisonment from 10 to 15 years.