Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law amending and supplementing the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan."

In recent years, some foreign nationals have made public statements and taken actions aimed at undermining the state’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security. These actions have provoked intergovernmental, social, national, racial, and religious discord, as well as harmed the honor and dignity of the Uzbek people.

Current legislation did not provide mechanisms to respond to such actions by foreigners and stateless persons. The newly adopted law introduces measures to address this issue.

Now, foreign nationals and stateless persons whose actions threaten the safety and interests of the country will be recognized as undesirable to remain in Uzbekistan and will be included in a special registry. The management of this registry is entrusted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the procedure for adding individuals to the list will be determined by the government.

The initiative to include individuals in the registry can come from the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis, as well as from authorized government bodies.

The law includes several restrictions for undesirable individuals:

• A five-year ban on entering the country;
• Inability to open bank accounts;
• Ban on acquiring property;
• Restrictions on participating in the privatization of state assets;
• Ban on entering into financial and contractual relations.

If a foreign national or stateless person is residing temporarily or permanently in Uzbekistan, they must leave the country within 10 days. Otherwise, deportation — forced expulsion — will follow.

Individuals included in the registry will remain on it for five years. However, if the grounds for inclusion are eliminated, early removal from the list is possible.