Photo: sputniknews.uz
Starting September 27, 2025, all detainees in Uzbekistan will be subject to mandatory medical examinations upon arrival at pretrial detention facilities, as part of a new measure to prevent torture during criminal proceedings. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Justice via its official Telegram channel.
The policy was signed into law by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on June 26 and introduces amendments to the country’s Law on the Procedure for Holding Persons in Custody During Criminal Proceedings.
Under the new regulation, a medical examination must be conducted within two hours of a detainee’s arrival at a remand center. The examination is to be carried out by a medical professional of the same gender as the individual in custody. With the detainee’s consent, their defense attorney may also be present during the procedure.
A standardized medical certificate will be issued upon completion of the examination. If any bodily injuries, wounds, or signs of trauma are discovered, the medical professional is required to document them in detail. The findings must then be immediately communicated to the detainee and forwarded to the prosecutor.
The law further mandates that if a detainee is transferred to another location or taken out of the facility for investigative purposes, a repeat medical screening must be performed upon their return to the detention center.
The reform is seen as a step toward aligning Uzbekistan’s criminal justice practices with international human rights standards, particularly those prohibiting torture and inhumane treatment of detainees.
