Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A group of deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis developed and submitted to parliament a draft law “On amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

The bill proposes to establish the grounds and procedure for recognizing foreign citizens and stateless persons as undesirable for staying in Uzbekistan.

The purpose of the bill is to strengthen the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uzbekistan in the context of modern globalization.

The document was developed based on the best practices of countries such as Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Poland, Belarus, and the People's Republic of China.

The bill establishes criteria by which foreign citizens and stateless persons may be considered undesirable for staying in Uzbekistan.

According to the document, recognition of a person as undesirable is based on the following actions or statements:

actions contrary to state sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Uzbekistan;
inciting interstate, social, national, racial and religious hatred;
humiliation of the honor, dignity or history of the people of Uzbekistan.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who are recognized as undesirable for staying in Uzbekistan are prohibited from entering the country for a period of up to five years.

Also, such persons will have limited access to opening bank accounts, purchasing real estate, participating in the privatization of state property, as well as participating in financial and contractual relations.

If undesirable persons are found on the territory of Uzbekistan, they will be deported, and their right to reside and stay in the country will be revoked.

The bill also establishes procedures for the deportation of persons who have been deemed undesirable in the country.

In particular, a person must voluntarily leave Uzbekistan within 10 days after receiving a notification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that his stay in the country is undesirable.

In case of failure to comply with the instructions within the specified period, the person will be forcibly expelled.