Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan plans to increase penalties for entering into early marriages. This was announced by Deputy Head of the Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Murodbek Makhmudov, during a live broadcast on the "Uzbekistan 24" TV channel.

Currently, entering into a de facto marital relationship with a person below the legal marriage age is punishable by a fine ranging from 5 to 10 sizes of basic estimated value (BEVs). Organizing a marriage involving a minor — whether arranging a wedding or forcing someone into marriage — is punishable by a fine of 7 to 15 BEVs.

Criminal liability is currently imposed only after administrative penalties have been applied.

According to a new draft law initiated at the instruction of the President, tougher measures are being proposed. Entering into a de facto marriage with a minor would be punishable by a fine ranging from 20 to 30 BEVs, or up to 240 hours of compulsory community service, or up to one year of corrective labor.

For coercing a person under the legal marriage age into marriage, the proposed penalties include a fine of 30 to 50 BEVs, up to 240 hours of community service, or up to two years of corrective labor.