Reforms - The Times Of Central Asia

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Uzbekistan Prepares for the Polls: Embracing a New Electoral System

On October 27, citizens of Uzbekistan will cast their ballots under a new mixed electoral system for the 150-member Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Lower House of Parliament) in elections billed as “My choice is my prospering Motherland.” Half of the candidates will be elected from single-member districts using a first-past-the-post system, whilst the other half will come from nationwide proportional representation which requires parties to surpass a 7% electoral threshold. If fewer than one-third of eligible voters participate, the election will be deemed invalid, and should no party meet the threshold for proportional seats, those elections will be considered void. By mandate, at least 40% of the candidates must be women, up from 30% in the elections held in 2019. Additionally, 56 members of the upper chamber, 65 deputies of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, 12 regional and 208 district and city council seats are also being contested by approximately 30,000 candidates. At the invitation of the authorities in Uzbekistan, at the end of September, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) dispatched a team of long-term observers. On October 5, Uzbekistan held a groundbreaking pre-election TV debate for party leaders which was broadcast live on multiple TV channels and social media platforms in Uzbek, Russian, English, and Karakalpak. Reportedly modeled on the BBC’s Question Time, the debate’s audience featured voices from the nation's youth, women, and ethnic minorities as part of a drive to engage with voters described by organizers as “innovate, creative [and] interactive. Five parties - the Liberal-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) Democratic Party, the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan, the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (PDP), and the Adolat (Justice) Social-Democratic Party – have been registered for the upcoming elections. However, others have faced a backlash for attempting to register. According to The Diplomat, all of the entities running “have always been perceived as mere extensions of the state.” Since the death of long-term despot, Islam Karimov, however, Uzbekistan’s “state apparatus [have] become more open,” as noted by an election observer in 2019, whilst the platforms of figures such as Alisher Qodirov have increasingly chimed with the public. Amidst reforms aimed at tackling endemic corruption, in recent years Uzbekistan has gained ground on Transparency International’s global corruption perception index, and recently partnered with the World Bank on “training, projects, and research to combat corruption.”

Supreme Court Rule of law Legislation Parliament Constitution Reforms

Kazakhstan: The Role of the Constitutional Court in Upholding the Rule of Law

This year marks 30 years since the adoption of the current Constitution of Kazakhstan, which was approved by a popular referendum. Over the years, several changes have been made to the country's basic laws to expand citizens' rights, support political modernization, and strengthen the protection of human rights. The last referendum demonstrated the people's will and became an important milestone in the country's history. As a result, the powers of the president were reduced, and the role of parliament and local self-government bodies was significantly strengthened. An important step was the introduction of the Ombudsman for the Human Rights institution, the abolition of the death penalty, and the restoration of the Constitutional Court, Elvira Azimova, Chairperson of the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan, has told the Asian Legal Portal. As Azimova explained, the Constitutional Court plays a critical role in ensuring the supremacy of the Constitution and protecting citizens' rights. At the same time, she noted that regulations should not only comply with the Constitution, but also be organically linked to it, creating a legal basis for the law and the state's sustainable development. Azimova also highlighted the fact that more than 120 countries worldwide have established constitutional courts or similar bodies performing constitutional oversight functions. In Kazakhstan, as in other states, citizens have the right to apply to the Constitutional Court to verify the constitutionality of laws, acts of the executive branch, and international treaties. International experience shows that such courts not only resolve legal disputes, but also improve the legal culture and continuity of constitutional processes. The revival of the Constitutional Court in Kazakhstan was an essential stage of the constitutional reform of 2022. Azimova emphasized that this body, independent of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, strengthens the state's system of checks and balances. Citizens, the prosecutor general, and the Human Rights Ombudsman can now appeal to the Constitutional Court to uphold constitutional legality. Since January 2023, according to Azimova, the Constitutional Court has received over 7,500 appeals from citizens. In her opinion, such appeals do not indicate mass rights violations, but rather reflect citizens' dissatisfaction with the legal decisions made by state bodies. Citizens, she said, go to court when they believe their rights have been violated and there is either no response or an insufficient response from government agencies. The Azimova-led Constitutional Court has already issued 252 rulings, including 49 final decisions on the constitutionality of legal norms and acts. These decisions directly impact laws and regulations, which can be repealed or revised if found unconstitutional. Azimova also notes that the president, the Supreme Court, and members of parliament have already submitted requests to the Constitutional Court to check the constitutionality of laws. The prosecutor general and other state bodies have repeatedly requested an official interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution. For example, the prosecutor general's request included an interpretation of the prosecutor's competence in court and legal provisions on housing deprivation. In June 2023, Azimova presented an annual message to Parliament on...

Reforms International Cooperation EU Cooperation

Roundtable on Uzbekistan’s Reform Agenda

The 2nd Roundtable of Uzbekistan’s Country Platform was held last week in Tashkent. Backed by the European Union, the event provided a platform for discussions amongst over 80 government partners and international institutions on Uzbekistan’s reform agenda and coordinate support activities. As reported by the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan, the participants agreed to continue collaboration through more than 13 sectoral working groups supporting issues prioritized by the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy including agriculture, energy security, green growth, and the rule of law. Led by the Agency for Strategic Reforms (ASR) under the President of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, and with secretarial assistance from the European Union, the Country Platform aims to foster effective coordination. Bakhodir Rakhmatov, Director of the Agency for Strategic Reforms, commented: “Constructive collaboration between development partners and government ensures achievement of the priority reform objectives identified by President Mirziyoyev aimed at creating a more prosperous and sustainable future for all. The ASR plays a pivotal role in coordinating the engagement of ministries and agencies with development partners.” Taking over the support previously provided by the World Bank in May, the European Union committed to assisting the Country Platform until the end of 2025. “The European Union is honored to co-chair and promote the Country Platform as a forum for open dialogue, cooperation and collaboration between Uzbekistan and development partners,” said Charlotte Adriaen, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan. “The common goal is to support Uzbekistan in its reform path. The Platform is an opportunity to join forces, to effectively move together bringing prosperity, sustainable development, leaving no one behind.”

Reforms

Uzbekistan Launches Reforms to Boost Economy

On February 13th Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a government meeting to review strategic reforms planned for this year in five key areas — transport, urbanization and town planning, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and energy. The government’s plan "Uzbekistan-2030" aims to increase the country's gross domestic product to $160bn and annual per capita income to $4,000 by 2030, turning Uzbekistan into an upper-middle income country. Transport is seen as a key part of economic development. The landlocked Uzbekistan needs to diversify its air and railway routes. Officials reported that last year six airlines were created and 28 new aircraft were purchased, while the private sector was involved in the management of Samarkand International Airport. Mr Mirziyoyev gave orders to accelerate the transformation of the companies Uzbekistan Airports and Uzbekistan Airways, and to continue transferring airports to the private sector. In the next seven years, the number of cities and districts with a population of more than 300,000 people is projected to increase from the current 13 to 28. Due to the lack of general plans, some cities and towns are expanding only by increasing their area, which leads to higher infrastructure costs and shrinking agricultural land areas. Therefore there is a pressing need to develop a new law on urbanization. The meeting also considered the issue of transferring certain other functions of the state to the private sector, including landscaping and management of free economic zones. Mr Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to create reliable guarantees for investors. “In 2024 we should complete all processes of building the foundation of a market economy and in 2025 bring the national economy to a completely new level of quality,” he commented.

Reforms Belt and Road Initiative

President of Kazakhstan Outlines Vision for Country’s Development

In an interview with the newspaper, Egemen Qazaqstan, President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke about political reforms in Kazakhstan, the country’s economic course, plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant, relations with China, and whether he will participate in the next presidential election. Tokayev said he believes that 2023 was full of significant events for Kazakhstan, including the completion of major political reforms, the establishment of the Constitutional Court, the holding of elections of deputies to the Mazhilis (parliament) and Maslikhats (local councils) at all levels according to new rules, and the first ever elections of akims (mayors) to districts and cities of regional significance. Kazakhstan has begun to build a fair and competitive economic system, Tokayev said, diversifying and demonopolizing the economy, updating infrastructure, supporting business, and attracting investment. In Tokayev’s words, Kazakhstan will continue with a constructive and balanced foreign policy; in 2024, the country will chair several authoritative international organizations: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Organization of Turkic States, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and the Islamic Organization for Food Security. This year, Kazakhstan will also host the World Nomad Games. Asked about the country’s new economic course for a Fair and Just Kazakhstan and the goal of doubling the size of the economy to $450 billion by 2029, Tokayev said it is completely achievable. “According to analysts from the International Monetary Fund, by the end of 2023, GDP in Kazakhstan should be over $259 billion, which is 15% more than in 2022. This is the most significant nominal growth in Central Asia. Positive dynamics are also registered in GDP per capita. According to the IMF forecast, by 2028 this figure will increase by a third – up to $16,800.” The President explained his position vis-à-vis plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant, saying that he pays special attention to the issue given that Kazakhstan is the world’s largest uranium producer and generates its own nuclear fuel. “As many in Kazakhstan are critical of the construction of nuclear power plants given the tragic consequences of tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, I proposed submitting the issue to a national referendum,” Tokayev said. “Citizens must consider and discuss all the experts’ arguments in order to make a balanced, thoughtful decision during the free expression of their will. This will be the decision of the people.” Commenting on relations with China, the President said that today, relations between Kazakhstan and China are developing in the spirit of friendship, neighborliness, and strategic partnership. Kazakhstan firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative, Tokayev stated, emphasizing the unprecedented growth of bilateral trade, which reached $24.3 billion from January-October 2023. China is also one of the largest investors in the Kazakhstan, with direct Chinese investment having reached $24 billion. The common border with China and favorable geographical position of Kazakhstan as a bridge between the East and West opens up broad prospects for...

Reforms

Kazakhstan’s Senate Speaker Highlights Major Laws Passed in 2023

Maulen Ashimbaev, the Speaker of the Senate, emphasized during the final plenary session of the chamber this year that the Parliament had passed a total of 92 laws in 2023, with significant implications for the political, economic, and social spheres of the country. Ashimbaev stated that 2023 was a year of substantial change and believed it marked a period of genuine political modernization within the framework of constitutional reforms under the President's leadership. "This year, constitutional amendments relating to Parliament were implemented. As a result of these constitutional reforms, the role of the chambers of Parliament has been enhanced. The legislative procedure has evolved, with laws being considered using new methodologies," said the Senate Speaker. He recollected that at the start of 2023, the Head of State appointed 10 Senate deputies by decree, including five nominees from the ANC for the first time. Regular elections of Senate deputies also took place in the regions, leading to a significant refreshment of the upper house of Parliament. "In January, the President issued a decree to dissolve the Mazhilis of Parliament; the Senate dutifully performed the functions of Parliament for two months," Ashimbaev recalled. "In total, Parliament passed 92 laws this year, ensuring the country's political stability and sustainable socio-economic development." The laws included constitutional legislation on judicial system issues, the prosecutor's office activities, and administrative reform matters. The adoption of the new Social Code was particularly noteworthy. Additionally, several critical laws were enacted, such as those relating to the return of illicitly obtained assets to the state and public control. "We approved the country's main financial document last month – the Republican budget for 2024-2026," concluded Maulen Ashimbaev. On December 27, 2023, the Mazhilis held its final plenary meeting of the year. Erlan Koshanov, the Speaker of the chamber, also reviewed the deputies' work over the year.