He said that wide-scale reforms, directed at liberalizing criminal punishment resulted in the lowest number of prisoners in the world. Number of prisoners makes up 166 persons per 100,000 population.

Buritosh Mustafaev said that this figure makes up 611 persons per 100,000 population in Russi and 738 persons per 100,000 population in the United States.

He said that in last several years Uzbekistan expanded opportunity to replace prison punishment to fines. The country also abolished punishment as property confiscation.

Chairperson of Supreme Court of Uzbekistan said that in 2011 the country introduced changes to Criminal Code, Criminal Procedural Code, Code of Administrative Responsibility, which fully reviewed classification of crimes.

In the result 75% of serious and very serious crimes transferred to the category, which do not pose a danger to society and less serious crimes, he added.

He noted that persons, who cover financial damage from their crimes voluntary, they do not receive jail punishment, which also helped to cut number of prisoners.

Since adoption of the law on liberalization of punishment, over 23,000 persons, who voluntary repaid damages, received punishment not related with imprisonment.