Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis considered a draft law aimed at protecting and protecting subsoil and land resources.

The bill envisages amendments and additions to the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Code of Administrative Responsibility in order to stop the illegal mining of precious metals and precious stones, as well as strengthen liability for such actions.

The Criminal Code will be supplemented with new articles 196-1 and 196-2, which are aimed at suppressing the extraction of mineral resources on the territory of Uzbekistan without appropriate permission, as well as increasing liability for these illegal actions.

According to the proposed standards, criminal liability will be established for repeated illegal mining of mineral resources within a year after the application of an administrative penalty, as well as for artisanal mining of mineral resources without permission.

In addition, in accordance with the new norms, powers for the preliminary investigation of these crimes will be transferred to the investigative units of the internal affairs bodies.

The Legislative Chamber noted that the adoption of this bill will ensure compliance with legislation related to the conservation and protection of land resources and subsoil, as well as effectively prevent offenses in this area.

The bill was adopted in the third reading at the meeting.