On liberty of conscience and religious organizations (LRU-699-son)

05.07.2021

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Adopted by the Legislative Chamber on May 4, 2021 Approved by the Senate on June 26, 2021

Chapter 1. General Provisions

Article 1. Purpose of this Law

The purpose of this Law is to regulate relations in the field of ensuring liberty of conscience, as well as to regulate the activities of religious organizations.

Article 2. Legislation on liberty of conscience and religious organizations

Legislation on liberty of conscience and religious organizations consists of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, this Law and other legislative acts.

If an international treaty of the Republic of Uzbekistan establishes other rules than those provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan on liberty of conscience and religious organizations, then the rules of the international treaty shall apply.

Article 3. General definitions

The following general definitions are applied in this Law:

religious educational institution – an institution belonging to a certain confession, created by the central governing body of religious organizations in the Republic of Uzbekistan to train professional ministers of religious organizations and the necessary religious personnel for them;

religious organization – a voluntary association of citizens registered in accordance with the established procedure, created for the purpose of joint confession of faith, worship, religious rites and ceremonies, not pursuing the extraction of income (profit) as the main goal of its activity and not distributing the income (profit) received among its participants (members) (local religious organization, religious educational institution and the central governing body of a religious organization in the Republic of Uzbekistan);

the central governing body of religious organizations in the Republic of Uzbekistan – a religious organization created by registered local religious organizations operating in at least eight administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Uzbekistan (region, Tashkent city, Republic of Karakalpakstan), in order to coordinate the activities of local religious organizations, and also religious educational institutions of one confession;

local religious organization – a religious organization (mosques, churches, synagogues, monasteries and others) operating in the regions, the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the city of Tashkent, district or city, created on the initiative of at least fifty citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan permanently residing in the territory of the corresponding district (cities) of the Republic of Uzbekistan who have reached the age of eighteen;

missionary work – activities for the forced imposition of religious views and the dissemination of religious teachings by purposefully exerting ideological influence on a person (group of persons) with the aim of converting him (them) to his religion;

illegal religious activity – activity without registration as a religious organization, the implementation by a religious organization of activities outside its location, including places of worship and prayer buildings and territories belonging to a religious organization, as well as engaging in religious educational activities in private outside religious educational institutions;

religious vocational education – a process aimed at providing students with religious knowledge of a particular denomination in religious educational institutions;

proselytism – a form of missionary activity, expressed in the conversion of believers of one denomination to another.

Chapter 2. Fundamentals of Ensuring Liberty of Conscience

Article 4. Ensuring liberty of conscience

Liberty of conscience is a guaranteed constitutional right of citizens to profess any religion or not to profess any.

Any coercion is not allowed when a citizen determines his attitude to religion, confession or non-profession of religion, participation or non-participation in worship, religious rites and ceremonies, in receiving religious education.

The involvement of minors in religious organizations against their will, the will of their parents or their legal representatives is not allowed.

Freedom to manifest oneʼs religion or belief is subject only to such restrictions as are prescribed by law.

It is not allowed to use religion for the purpose of forcibly changing the constitutional order, undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Uzbekistan, infringing on the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, propagating war, national, racial, ethnic or religious hatred, encroaching on the health and morals of citizens, violating civil accord, spreading slanderous, destabilizing fabrications, creating panic among the population and committing other actions directed against the individual, society and the state.

Article 5. Key priorities for ensuring liberty of conscience

Key priorities for ensuring liberty of conscience are:

creation of equal conditions for citizens to exercise their rights to liberty of conscience, regardless of their attitude to religion, preventing the forced imposition of religious views;

strengthening peace and harmony between confessions, ensuring religious tolerance in society;

preservation of a secular state system while ensuring liberty of conscience;

ensuring that citizens and religious organizations comply with legislation on liberty of conscience and religious organizations;

counteracting the planting and dissemination of religious ideas and views that threaten public order, health and morality, the rights and freedoms of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The authorized state body responsible for implementing measures to ensure liberty of conscience, as well as consistent and uniform practice of applying legislation on liberty of conscience and religious organizations, is the Committee on Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter referred to as the authorized body).

Article 6. Equality of citizens regardless of their attitude to religion

Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan are equal before the law regardless of their attitude to religion.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons enjoy the right to liberty of conscience and freedom of religion on an equal basis with citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and bear legal responsibility for violating the law on liberty of conscience and religious organizations.

An indication in official documents of the attitude of citizens towards religion is not allowed.

Any restriction of the rights and establishment of direct or indirect advantages of citizens depending on their attitude to religion, inciting enmity and hatred or insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious or atheistic convictions, as well as desecration of revered religious objects, entails liability established by law.

On the grounds of his/her religious convictions, oo one may evade the performance of duties established by law. Replacing the performance of one duty with another based on religious beliefs is allowed only in cases provided for by law.

Establishing any advantages or limitations of one religion or creed in relation to others is not allowed.

Article 7. Separation of religion from the state

Religion in the Republic of Uzbekistan is separated from the state. The activities of religious organizations and state bodies in the Republic of Uzbekistan are carried out on the basis of mutual non-interference.

The state promotes the establishment of mutual tolerance and respect between citizens who profess different religions and those who do not profess them, between religious organizations of different faiths, does not allow religious fundamentalism and extremism, actions aimed at opposing and exacerbating relations, inciting hostility between different confessions.

The state acts as a guarantor of the peaceful coexistence of confessions. The implementation of missionary work and proselytism is not allowed.

The state does not impose on religious organizations the performance of any state functions, does not interfere in their activities, if it does not contradict the law. Religious organizations do not perform state functions. The state does not finance the activities of religious organizations and does not allow activities that offend the religious feelings of believers.

It is not allowed to create and operate in the Republic of Uzbekistan a political party and other public associations on a religious basis, representative offices and branches of religious parties created outside the republic, participation of religious organizations in the activities of political parties and other public associations pursuing political goals, as well as providing them with financial or other help.

Article 8. Education system and religion

The education system in the Republic of Uzbekistan is separated from religion.

It is not allowed to include religious disciplines (with the exception of religious educational institutions) in the curricula of the education system.

The right to secular education is provided to citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan regardless of their attitude to religion.

Everyone has the right to receive religious vocational education in religious educational institutions.

Citizens are admitted to study in religious educational institutions after they have received general secondary, secondary specialized education or vocational education in accordance with the law.

Persons with professional religious education have the right to engage in teaching religious disciplines in religious educational institutions.

Article 9. Religious rites and ceremonies

Religious rites and ceremonies are held at the location of religious organizations, including in religious and prayer buildings and on their territories, in places of burial, pilgrimage, in case of ritual necessity – in the homes of citizens at their request.

Religious rites and ceremonies in hospitals, infirmaries, boarding schools, places of pre-trial detention and serving sentences, and rehabilitation centers of internal affairs bodies may be held at the request of citizens staying in them in the manner prescribed by law.

Public religious rites and ceremonies outside religious and prayer buildings are carried out in the manner prescribed by law.

Religious organizations shall not have the right to carry out compulsory collections of money and taxes on believers, as well as to apply measures against them that infringe on the honor and dignity of a person.

Article 10. Materials of religious content, their production, import and distribution

Religious content materials are books, brochures, magazines, newspapers, leaflets, other printed publications, signs, objects, symbols, audiovisual works (television, film and video films, clips, recordings of concert programs, cartoons and others), electronic media ( floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, built-in and removable memory cards, materials posted on the Internet, and others) reflecting the dogmatic foundations, history, ideology of religious teachings and comments, the practice of rites of various religious beliefs, as well as the assessment of individuals, historical facts and events from the standpoint of religion.

The production, importation and distribution of materials of religious content on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan are carried out after receiving a positive conclusion from a religious expertise in order to prevent the spread in society of ideas and views that contribute to the violation of interfaith harmony and religious tolerance, calling for violence and arbitrariness on religious grounds.

The procedure for the manufacture, importation and distribution of materials of religious content is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Chapter 3. Creation of a Religious Organization, its Rights and Obligations. Additional Guarantees for the Activities of Religious Organizations

Article 11. Creation of a religious organization

A religious organization is created by decision of its initiators (founders) in accordance with the law.

The initiators (founders) of a religious organization convene a constituent assembly (conference), at which the charter is adopted and governing bodies are formed.

A religious organization is considered established from the moment of its registration.

A religious organization is a legal entity.

A religious organization can be created in the form of a central governing body of religious organizations in the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter referred to as the central governing body), a religious educational institution or a local religious organization.

A religious educational institution acquires the right to carry out activities after registration and obtaining the appropriate license from the authorized body.

A religious organization is created on land plots provided in accordance with the established procedure, in agreement with the authorized body.

The head of a religious organization may be a person who has an appropriate professional religious education, with the exception of confessions whose doctrine does not provide for a system of religious professional education.

The reorganization of a religious organization may be carried out by decision of its governing body through merger, accession, division, separation and transformation.

The reorganization of a religious organization is carried out in the manner prescribed by law.

Article 12. Rights and obligations of a religious organization

A religious organization has the right:

use buildings and property provided on the basis of a contract for their own needs, as well as objects of material cultural heritage in the manner prescribed by law;

carry out charitable activities;

carry out activities related to the activities of a religious organization;

create business structures to perform the tasks specified in the charter;

produce, import and export materials of religious content;

establish international relations for the purpose of organizing pilgrimages or participating in other religious events;

make proposals on the creation of new and reconstruction of existing burial places.

The religious organization is obliged:

comply with the requirements ofthe Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, this Law, other legislative acts and the provisions of its charter;

create favorable conditions in places for worship, rituals of religious rites or ceremonies;

ensure the safety of material cultural heritage objects owned (used) by a religious organization, with the obligatory fulfillment of the requirements provided for by the legislation on the protection and use of cultural heritage objects, carry out construction and repair work on the basis of project documentation for the restoration of architectural monuments;

notify the justice authorities about the holding of events (conferences, seminars and others, with the exception of religious rites and ceremonies) to assist in their free conduct;

notify the justice authorities about the change in the composition of the governing body within one month from the date of the decision;

annually submit to the justice authorities information on their activities for the past year in the prescribed form.

A religious organization may have other rights and bear other obligations provided for by law.

Article 13. Additional Guarantees for the Activities of Religious Organizations

Religious organizations carry out their activities independently in accordance with the law.

Religious organizations may own buildings, structures, objects of worship, industrial, social and charitable facilities, funds and other property necessary to ensure its activities. The property of religious organizations is protected by law.

Religious organizations have the right to appeal unlawful decisions of state bodies, actions (inaction) of their officials to a higher authority in the order of subordination or to the court.

Religious organizations are exempted from paying the state fee when appealing to the court against unlawful decisions of state bodies, actions (inaction) of their officials that violate their rights and legitimate interests.

Chapter 4. Procedure for Registration and Re-registration of a Religious Organization

Article 14. Constituent document of a religious organization

The constituent document of a religious organization is the charter approved by the initiators (founders) of the creation of a religious organization.

The charter of a religious organization provides:

the name, type of religious organization, information about the fundamentals of the doctrine and information about the corresponding religious activities, its organizational and legal form, location (postal address), the territory within which it carries out its activities;

purpose, objectives and main activities;

the structure and governing bodies of a religious organization;

the competence and procedure for the formation of the governing bodies of a religious organization, the terms of their powers, the location (postal address) of the permanent governing body;

sources of formation of funds and other property, the rights of a religious organization and its structural divisions for property management;

the procedure for reorganization and liquidation, as well as the procedure for disposing of the property of a religious organization upon its liquidation;

the procedure for introducing amendments and additions to the charter.

The charter may also provide for other provisions relating to the activities of a religious organization that do not contradict the law.

The requirements of the charter of a religious organization are obligatory for the religious organization itself, the initiators (founders) of its creation.

The statutes of religious organizations with central governing bodies must be coordinated with these bodies.

Article 15. Provision of public services during registration (re-registration) of a religious organization

Public services, including services for the registration (re-registration) of religious organizations, are provided through the electronic system of justice bodies.

Logging into the electronic system is carried out using an electronic digital signature or other means that provide the possibility of identifying a person.

After entering the electronic system, the applicant selects the type of appeal in his personal account, gradually enters information and sends documents through the electronic system.

In electronic documents generated in an electronic system or sent by justice authorities, there is a matrix bar code (QR code) and identified numbers. At the same time, it is possible to obtain information about an electronic document by entering an identified number indicated in it into a special section of the electronic system.

The order of operation of the electronic system, the type of information and their forms, as well as samples of electronic documents are approved by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Article 16. Registration of religious organizations

Registration of religious organizations is carried out by the bodies of justice (hereinafter referred to as the registering bodies).

Registration of central government bodies and religious educational institutions is carried out by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and local religious organizations – respectively by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the departments of justice of the regions and the city of Tashkent.

The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in accordance with the established procedure, accredits employees (heads) of religious organizations who are foreign citizens, as well as members of their families who are dependent on them.

For registration of religious organizations, accreditation of employees of religious organizations who are foreign citizens, as well as members of their families who are dependent on them, a state fee is charged in the amount established in the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On State Duty”.

The body that registered a religious organization exercises control over the compliance of its activities with the statutory goals and legislation.

Article 17. Documents required for registration of a religious organization

Within six months from the date of holding the constituent assembly (conference) on the creation of a religious organization, an electronic application for its registration is sent to the registering authority.

The electronic application for registration of the central management body shall be accompanied by electronic copies of the following documents:

decisions of the constituent assembly (conference) containing information on the creation of a central governing body, the approval of its charter and the election of governing bodies;

the charter of the central governing body in the state language;

a document confirming the right of ownership or use of real estate, the location of which is supposed to be used as a postal address of a religious organization;

documents on the founders of the central management body and on the members of its governing body;

a document confirming that the head of the central administrative body has a religious vocational education, with the exception of confessions whose doctrine does not provide for a system of religious vocational education;

conclusions of the authorized body.

An electronic application for registration of a religious educational institution shall be accompanied by electronic copies of the following documents:

decisions of the central governing body containing information on the establishment of a religious educational institution, the approval of its charter and the election (appointment) of governing bodies;

the charter of a religious educational institution in the state language;

documents on members of the governing body of a religious educational institution;

conclusions of the authorized body.

Electronic copies of the following documents are attached to the electronic application for registration of a local religious organization:

a document containing the signatures of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan who have reached the age of eighteen, in the amount of at least fifty people, at the initiative of which a local religious organization is being created;

decisions of the constituent assembly containing information on the creation of a local religious organization, the approval of its charter and the election of governing bodies;

the charter of the local religious organization in the state language;

documents about the initiators of the creation of a local religious organization and about the members of its governing body;

a document confirming that the head of a local religious organization has religious professional education, with the exception of confessions whose doctrine does not provide for a system of religious professional education;

conclusions of the authorized body;

conclusions of the local executive authority (Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, khokimiyats of the regions and the city of Tashkent) with the application of conclusions on the compliance of the real estate of the local religious organization, which is supposed to be used as a postal address, with the requirements of urban planning standards.

Article 18. Documents required for registration of a religious organization established through reorganization

An electronic application for registration of a religious organization created by reorganization in the form of a merger, accession, division, separation or transformation, in addition to the documents provided for in Article 17 of this Law, shall be accompanied by electronic copies of the following documents:

confirmation of a written notification of all known creditors of the reorganized religious organization and publication in the media of a message about the reorganization;

a deed of transfer (in the event of a merger and transformation) or a separation balance sheet (in the event of division and spin-off) containing provisions on the succession of all obligations of the reorganized religious organization in respect of all its creditors and debtors, including obligations disputed by the parties;

destruction statement of the seal and stamp of the reorganized religious organization.

Article 19. Re-registration of a religious organization when making changes and (or) additions to the charter of a religious organization

A religious organization is subject to re-registration in the manner prescribed by this Law in the event of amendments and (or) additions to its charter.

The requirements for the registration of a religious organization apply to the re-registration of a religious organization.

Within one month from the date of the adoption by the governing body of the religious organization of the decision to introduce changes and (or) additions to the charter of the religious organization, an electronic application for re-registration of the religious organization is sent to the registering body.

Electronic copies of the following documents are attached to the electronic application for re-registration of a religious organization:

the text of amendments and (or) additions to the charter, or a new version of the charter;

decisions of the governing body of a religious organization on amendments and (or) additions to the charter;

an act on the destruction of the seal and stamp of a religious organization – in the event of a change in the name of a religious organization or a change in the registration authority.

In case of re-registration of a religious organization in connection with its reorganization (separation or affiliation), in addition to the documents provided for by this article, electronic copies of the following documents are attached:

confirmation of a written notification of all known creditors of the reorganized religious organization and publication in the media of a message about the reorganization;

a deed of transfer or a separation balance sheet containing provisions on the succession of all obligations of the reorganized religious organization in respect of all their creditors and debtors, including obligations disputed by the parties;

destruction statement of the seal and stamp of the reorganized religious organization.

In the event of a change in the registering authority, the registering authority that registers the religious organization requests through the electronic system from the registering authority that previously registered the religious organization documents related to its registration.

In the event of a change in the postal address, bank details or composition of the governing body, the religious organization, within a month from the date of the decision on these issues, notifies the registering body through the electronic system, attaching the relevant decisions.

Article 20. Consideration of an application for registration of a religious organization

The sender of the electronic request, having completed the formation of the electronic request, pays the state fee, which is automatically determined by the electronic system.

After payment of the state fee, the application for registration of a religious organization passes to the stage of consideration.

If the application contains errors that can be corrected, or there are no documents required by this Law or referred to by the sender of the electronic application, the registration authority provides him with the opportunity to correct them and send the missing documents within five working days. At the request of the sender of the electronic application, the registration authority may extend this period by at least five working days.

The registering body has the right to verify the authenticity of the documents sent for the registration of a religious organization and their compliance with the law.

Article 21. Terms for consideration of documents on registration of a religious organization

Documents on the registration of a religious organization are considered by the registering body within the following terms:

for registration of a religious organization – within a month from the date of receipt of the application;

for re-registration of a religious organization – within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the application.

Article 22. Results of consideration of documents on registration of a religious organization

Based on the results of consideration of documents on registration of a religious organization, the registering body makes one of the following decisions:

on the registration of a religious organization;

on refusal to register a religious organization.

If a decision is made to register a religious organization, the registering body, within three days from the date of the decision:

enters information about the religious organization into the register of religious organizations;

registers a religious organization with tax authorities and statistics authorities;

creates a personal account of a religious organization in the electronic system;

generates an electronic certificate of registration of a religious organization;

sends an electronic certificate of registration of the religious organization and the charter of the religious organization to the personal account of the religious organization in the electronic system.

The electronic certificate of re-registration of a religious organization shall indicate previous information about the religious organization, including its name, the name of the registering authority, the date of registration of the religious organization, and the date of re-registration.

In case of re-registration of a religious organization due to a change in the registering authority, the newly registered authority notifies the previous registering authority of this through the electronic system, indicating the relevant registration data.

In case of refusal to register a religious organization, a notification is sent to the personal account of the sender of an electronic appeal in the electronic system within one working day after the decision is made, indicating the reasons for the refusal.

Refusal to register a religious organization is not an obstacle to re-submission of documents, provided that the grounds for refusal are eliminated.

Article 23. Grounds for refusal to register a religious organization

The registration of a religious organization may be refused if:

the creation of a religious organization is aimed at forcibly changing the constitutional order, speaking out against the sovereignty, integrity and security of the Republic of Uzbekistan, infringing on the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, promoting war, social, national, racial and religious hatred, encroaching on the health and morality of the people;

the procedure established by law for the creation of a religious organization has been violated or there are inconsistencies in the submitted documents with the law;

the organization being created is not recognized as a religious one;

it was established that the submitted constituent documents contain deliberately unreliable information.

The decision of the registering body to refuse registration of a religious organization may be appealed in court.

Article 24. Register of religious organizations

A religious organization that has passed registration is entered in the register of religious organizations (hereinafter referred to as the register), which is maintained by the justice authorities in an electronic system and is publicly available for review.

The register specifies:

the name of the religious organization and its confessional affiliation;

location (postal address) of the religious organization;

territory of activity of a religious organization;

information about the initiators (founders), participants (last name, first name, patronymic), contact details;

name and postal address of the governing body, contact details;

date of registration of the religious organization and other information.

Chapter 5. Suspension and Termination of the Activities of a Religious Organization

Article 25. Suspension of the activities of a religious organization

The activities of a religious organization may be suspended by a court in case of violation by it of the requirements of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, this Law and other legislative acts.

In case of violation by a religious organization of the requirements of legislative acts, as well as the commission of actions that contradict its statutory goals, the prosecution authorities or the registering body submit to the governing bodies of this religious organization a proposal to eliminate these violations and set a time limit for their elimination. If these violations are not eliminated within the established period, the activity of the religious organization is suspended for a period of up to six months by a court decision on the basis of a proposal from the prosecutorʼs office or the registration authority.

The procedure for suspending the activities of a religious organization in the event of a state of emergency is determined by law.

Article 26. Consequences of Suspension of a Religious Organization

In case of suspension of the activities of a religious organization for a period established by a court decision, its rights as a founder of charitable foundations are suspended, it is prohibited from organizing events, using bank deposits, with the exception of expenses for economic activities, employment contracts, compensation for losses caused by its actions (inaction), and payment of fines.

If the violations that served as the basis for the suspension of its activities are eliminated within the period established by the court for the suspension of the activities of a religious organization, then after the expiration of the specified period, the religious organization may resume its activities.

If the religious organization fails to eliminate the said violation, the body that has filed a motion with the court to suspend the activity of the religious organization may file a motion with the court on its liquidation.

Article 27. Procedure for the liquidation of a religious organization

The liquidation of a religious organization is carried out on the basis of legislation and the charter of a religious organization.

The liquidation of a religious organization is carried out voluntarily by decision of the governing body of a religious organization or in accordance with part threeof Article 26 of this Law in a judicial proceeding.

The governing body of the religious organization that made the decision to liquidate the religious organization, or the court appoints a liquidator – a liquidation commission or an individual, determines the term for its liquidation.

The composition of the liquidation commission, as a rule, includes persons with appropriate legal, economic education and (or) practical experience in the field of accounting.

If a decision is made by the governing body of a religious organization to liquidate a religious organization, information about the liquidator is submitted to the registering body via the electronic system within three working days with an electronic copy of the decision of the governing body to liquidate the religious organization.

In case of liquidation of a religious organization by a court, the liquidator, within three working days after receiving the court decision through the electronic system, submits its electronic copy to the registering authority.

The registering authority, after receiving information about the liquidator and the decision of the governing body to liquidate the religious organization, within two working days, enters into the register information that the religious organization is in the process of liquidation, and through the electronic system informs the tax authorities and statistics authorities, the authorities for registration of rights to real estate and vehicles, as well as bodies for the execution of judicial acts and acts of other bodies at the place of registration of a religious organization.

Article 28. Making an entry on the liquidation of a religious organization in the register

In order to make an entry on the liquidation of a religious organization in the register, the liquidator sends an electronic application about this to the registering body through the electronic system.

Copies of the following documents are attached to the electronic appeal:

an announcement published in a printed periodical about the liquidation of a religious organization;

liquidation balance sheet, approved in the prescribed manner;

certificates from servicing banks on the closure of all accounts of a religious organization;

documents certifying the fact of disposal of the remaining property after the full satisfaction of creditors' claims;

an act on the destruction of seals and stamps;

licenses and permits (if any);

conclusions of tax authorities on the absence of debts on taxes and fees;

notification of the body for the execution of judicial acts and acts of other bodies about the absence in the production of an unexecuted executive document in which the religious organization participates as a debtor;

a certificate confirming the submission of documents of a religious organization to the state archive.

In this case, the original documents are submitted to the registration authority within two working days.

Within five working days after receiving the electronic application of the liquidator, the registering body makes an entry in the register on the liquidation of the religious organization.

An entry in the register may be refused if a complete list of documents is not submitted or they are executed in the wrong order, and it is also established that the submitted documents contain deliberately false information.

In case of refusal to make an entry in the register, the registering authority sends a notification to the liquidator through the electronic system indicating the grounds for refusal.

The decision to make an entry in the register is made in the form of a conclusion of the head of the registering body.

After making an entry on the liquidation of a religious organization in the register, the registering body, within two working days:

through an electronic system notifies the liquidator, tax authorities and statistical authorities of the liquidation of a religious organization;

transfers licenses and permits (if any) issued to a religious organization to the authorities that issued them.

A religious organization is considered liquidated from the moment an entry on the liquidation of a religious organization is made in the register.

Article 29. Disposition of the property of a religious organization that has ceased its activities

After the termination of the activities of a religious organization, the property transferred to it for use is returned to the previous owner.

When the activities of a religious organization are terminated, the possession of property at its disposal is carried out in accordance with its charter and legislation. The list of religious property, which cannot be levied on the claims of creditors, is established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In the absence of legal successors, the property passes into the ownership of the state.

Chapter 6. Final Provisions

Article 30. Resolution of Disputes

Disputes arising in the field of ensuring freedom of conscience, as well as regulating the activities of religious organizations, are resolved in the manner prescribed by law.

Article 31. Responsibility for violation of legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations

Persons guilty of violating the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations are liable in accordance with the established procedure.

Article 32. Recognition as invalid of some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Recognize as invalid the following legislative documents:

1) Law #289-XII of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On liberty of conscience and religious organizations” dated June 14, 1991 (Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1991, #8, Art. #186);

2) Decree #290-XII of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Enactment of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On liberty of conscience and religious organizations” dated June 14, 1991 (Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1991, #8, Art. #187);

3) Law #934-XII of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On liberty of conscience and religious organizations” dated September 3, 1993 (Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1993, #9, Art. #334);

4) Law #618-I of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On liberty of conscience and religious organizations” dated May 1, 1998 (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1998, #5-6, Art. #99);

5) Resolution #619-I of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the procedure for enacting the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On liberty of conscience and religious organizations” in a new edition” dated May 1, 1998 (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 1998, #5-6, Art. #100);

6) Article 2 of the Law #LRU-197 of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with the improvement of tax legislation” dated December 31, 2008 (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2008, #12, Art. #640);

7) Article 2 of the Law #LRU-476 of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan” dated April 18, 2018 (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2018, #4, Art. #224);

8) Article 2 of the Law #LRU-683 of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan” dated April 21, 2021 (Bulletin of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2021, Appendix #4).

Article 33. Ensuring the execution, communication, clarification of the essence and meaning of this Law

The Committee for Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other interested organizations to ensure the implementation, communication to the executors and explanation among the population of the essence and significance of this Law.

Article 34. Bringing legislation in line with this Law

Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan should:

bring government decisions in line with this Law;

ensure the revision and cancellation by the state administration bodies of their normative legal acts that are contrary to this Law.

Article 35. Entry into force of this Law

This Law shall enter into force on the day of its official publication.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan MIRZIYOYEV

Tashkent,

July 05, 2021

№ LRU-699