National Legal Framework

Uzbekistan has been developing its national legal framework that regulates a range of areas related to the World Heritage and other categories of heritage, including their management and protection, inventories, funding and sanctions, heritage impact assessment (HIA), urban planning, land management, and other aspects. The overall legal framework of Uzbekistan covering the heritage protection system includes the constitution, laws, decrees and decisions of the President, resolutions of Cabinet of Ministers, orders and decrees of ministries, state committees and departments, decisions of local government bodies (khokimiyats), management plans for specific heritage sites, local construction and conservation guidelines for specific sites, local monitoring and enforcement acts, and other legal document. The Uzbek legislation specifies that international treaties on heritage prevail should there be any contradictions with the national laws.

Despite of the protection and conservation efforts and their legal regulation, the World Heritage properties and other heritage sites worldwide and in Uzbekistan are being harmed by human activities, as well as impacted by climate change, disasters and armed conflicts. Historic cities in Uzbekistan are particularly vulnerable due to rapid development and infrastructure projects, which are often implemented without the due Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and proper mitigation measures. If a site loses the characteristics defined at the time of its inscription on the World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee may decide to include it on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Legal framework related to cultural and natural heritage in Uzbekistan can be found below:

Laws

Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan

https://lex.uz/docs/-20596 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/35869 (in Russian)

https://lex.uz/docs/4032775 (in English, unofficial translation)

Law No. 269-II dated August 30, 2001, “On Preservation and Use of Cultural Heritage Sites”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/-25461 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/10375 (in Russian)

https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/uzb_law_preservation_utilization_objects_cultural_heritage_engtof.pdf (in English)

Law No. ZRU-229 dated October 13, 2009, “On Protection and Use of Archaeological Heritage Sites”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-1526440 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/1526179 (in Russian)

Law No. 678-I dated August 29, 1998, “On Export and Import of Cultural Property”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/-24377 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/13906 (in Russian)

Law No. ZRU-177 dated September 12, 2008, “On Museums”

https://lex.uz/docs/-1391728 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/1391731 (in Russian)

Law No. ZRU-560 dated August 30, 2019, “On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Reinforce the Preservation of Material Cultural Heritage”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4494508 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4494510 (in Russian)

Law No. ZRU-604 dated February 17, 2020, “On Special Economic Zones”

https://lex.uz/docs/-4737511 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/4737514 (in Russian)

https://lex.uz/docs/4821319 (in English, unofficial translation)

Law No.710-II dated December 3, 2004 “On Protected Natural Areas”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-415135 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/415228 (in Russian)

Amendments:

Codes

Criminal Code of 1994

https://lex.uz/docs/-111453 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/111457 (in Russian)

Code of Administrative Responsibility of 1994

https://www.lex.uz/docs/-97664 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/97661 (in Russian)

Land Code of 1998

https://lex.uz/docs/-152653 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/149947 (in Russian)

Urban Planning Code of 2002

https://lex.uz/docs/-46868 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/45494 (in Russian)

https://lex.uz/docs/4854637 (in English, unofficial translation)

Resolutions, Decrees, Orders

Decree of the President No. UP-2595 dated April 26, 2000, “On Further Improvement of Architecture and Urban Planning in the Republic of Uzbekistan”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/230521 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/230474 (in Russian)

Decree of the President No. UP-4453 dated July 16, 2012, “On Reductions of Statistical, Tax, Financial Statements, Licensed Types of Activities and Permissive Procedures”

https://lex.uz/docs/-2033432 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/2033430 (in Russian)

Decree of the President No. UP-4956 dated February 15, 2017, “On Further Improvement of Management System in Culture and Sports Sphere”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/3115562 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/3115565 (in Russian)

Decree of the President No. UP-5511 dated August 15, 2018, “On Implementation Measures for the Pilot Aimed at Improving the Investment Climate in Tashkent City”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/3866291 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/3866299 (in Russian)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4609127 (in English, unofficial translation)

Decree of the President No. UP-5781 dated August 13, 2019, On Measures for Further Development of the Tourism Sector in Uzbekistan”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4474527 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4474549 (in Russian)

Decree of the President No. UP-6000, dated May 26, 2020, “On Measures to Increase Further the Role and Importance of Culture and Arts in Society’s Life”

https://lex.uz/docs/-4829149 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/4829338 (in Russian)

Decree of the President No. UP-6199 dated April 6, 2021 "On Measures to Further Improve the Public Administration System in Tourism, Sports and Cultural Heritage Sphere"

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/-5356705 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/5356753 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President No. PP-2778 dated February 15, 2017, “On Organization of Activities of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan”

https://lex.uz/docs/-3119230 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/3119226 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President No. PP-2953 dated May 4, 2017, “On Comprehensive Tourism Potential Development Program of Khiva and Khorezm Region in 2017-2021”

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/-4876081 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/4876096 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President No. PP-2980 dated May 19, 2017, “On Measures for Accelerated Development of Tourism Potential of Bukhara City and Bukhara Region in 2017 – 2019”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/3577062 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/3577051 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President No. PP-4068 dated December 19, 2018, “On Fundamental Improvement of Activities in the Area of Tangible Cultural Heritage Protection”

https://lex.uz/docs/-4113465 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/4113474 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President No. PP-4095 dated January 5, 2019, “On Measures for Accelerated Development of the Tourism Sector”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4141452 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4141463 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President No. PP-4730 dated May 26, 2020, “On Measures to Improve the Activities of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan”

https://lex.uz/docs/-4828880 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/4828884 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President No. PP-4756 dated June 22, 2020, “On Measures to Improve the Procedure for Fulfilling the Obligations Arising from International Treaties and Membership of the Republic of Uzbekistan in International Organizations”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4866227 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4866232 (in Russian)

Decree of the President No. P-5181 dated January 16, 2018, “On Improving the Protection and Use of Tangible Cultural and Archaeological Heritage Sites”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/3506332 (in Uzbek, abstracts)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/3506339 (in Russian, abstracts)

Resolution of Oliy Majlis No. 222-II dated May 12, 2001, “On the List of Activities that Require Licensing”

https://www.lex.uz/acts/69142 (in Russian)

Resolution of Oliy Majlis No. 270-II dated August 30, 2001, “On Enactment of the Law on Preservation and Uze of Cultural Heritage Sites”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-50056 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/50116 (in Russian)

Resolution of Oliy Majlis No. 182-I dated December 22, 1995, “On Ratification of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”

https://lex.uz/docs/-2678355 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/2678337 (in Russian)

Resolution of Oliy Majlis No. 513-III dated August 5, 2016, “On Information by the Minister of Culture and Sports B.Akhmedov about Implementation of the “Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Preservation and Use of Cultural Heritage Sites””

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-3190196 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/3190199 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 131 dated March 23, 1999, “On Streamlining Export and Import of Cultural Property in the Republic of Uzbekistan”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/-279299 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/279301 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 269 dated July 29, 2002, “On Measures to Further Improve the Protection and Use of the Cultural Heritage”

https://lex.uz/docs/-285207 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/285209 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 25 dated February 2, 2007, “On Approval of the Procedure for Assigning the Specially Regulated Urban Development Sites as the Sites of National and Local Significance, and Determining the Boundaries of Such Specially Regulated Urban Development Sites”

https://lex.uz/docs/-1120660 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/1120662 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 191 dated September 11, 2007, “On Protection of the Cultural Heritage Sites in the Historical Part of Bukhara City”

https://lex.uz/docs/-1268825 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/1268823 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 49 dated March 23, 2010, “On the State Program for Research, Conservation, Preservation and Modern Adaptive Reuse of Bukhara City Cultural Heritage Sites until 2020”

https://lex.uz/docs/-1603726 (in Uzbek, text of the law is missing)

https://lex.uz/docs/1603724 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 150 dated May 30, 2013, “On Approval of the Procedure for Differentiated Approaches (While Determining Time and Costs) to Issuing Permits in Construction”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/-2179397 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/2179395 (in Russian)

AMENDED by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 498 dated June 14, 2019.

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 225 dated August 15, 2013, “On Implementation of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Permissive Procedures in the Area of Entrepreneurial Activities”

https://lex.uz/docs/-2223605 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/2223603 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 53 dated March 6, 2014 “On Approval of the Procedure for Leasing Tangible Cultural Heritage Sites and Adjacent Territories Along with Undertaking Investment Obligations for their Improvement and Maintenance in a Proper Condition”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/-2352891 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/2352893 (in Russian)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/4613131 (in English, unofficial translation)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 200 dated July 21, 2014, “On Additional Measures to Further Improve the Preservation and Use of Cultural and Archaeological Heritage”

https://lex.uz/docs/-2432522 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/2432524 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 3 dated January 5, 2016, “On Measures for Further Improvement of the Development Procedure for Urban Planning Documentation and Urban and Urban Settlements Development”

https://lex.uz/docs/-2861303 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/2861300 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 15 dated January 22, 2016, “On Measures to Improve the Design Works and Examination of Investment Projects Financed by Central Investments”

https://lex.uz/docs/-2885460 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/2885467 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 450 dated June 30, 2017, “On Measures for Accelerated Development of Tourism Potential of Samarkand city and region in 2017-2019”

https://lex.uz/docs/-3255464 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/3255466 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No.370 dated May 18, 2018, “On Approval of Selected Administrative Regulations for Public Services in Architecture and Construction”

https://lex.uz/docs/-3743238 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/3743240 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 603 dated July 31, 2018, “On Approval of the Provisions on the Ministry of Construction of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Its Structural Units, and the National and Territorial Architectural and Urban Planning Councils”

https://www.lex.uz/docs/-3843065 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/docs/3843090 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 841 dated October 20, 2018, “On Measures to Implement the National Sustainable Development Goals and Objectives in the Period until 2030”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4013356 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4013358 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 63 dated January 28, 2019, “On Additional Measures for Implementation of Modern and Transparent Mechanisms for Providing Land Plots and Exercising Lifetime Inherited Ownership of Land Plots for Individual Housing”

https://lex.uz/docs/-4182210 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/4182204 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 242 dated March 22, 2019, “On Approval of the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4253101 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4253105 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 265 dated March 30, 2019, “On Approval of Regulatory and Legal Acts on the Use and Protection of Tangible Cultural Heritage Properties and Organization of the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan”

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/-4262171 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/4274003 (in Russian, text of the law is missing)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 598 dated July 17, 2019, “On Activities and Organization of a Research Centre on Restoration of Cultural Heritage and Art Objects under the Art and Culture Development Fund the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4427231 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4427574 (in Russian, text of the law is missing)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 828 dated September 30, 2019, “On Additional Measures for Effective Use and Development of Tourism Potential of Samarkand Region”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/-4532217 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4532224 (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 846 dated October 4, 2019, “On Approval of the National Registry of Immovable Property of Tangible Cultural Heritage”

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/-4543266 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/4548369 (in Russian, text of the law is missing)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 881 dated October 18, 2019, “On Approval of the Regulations on the Right to Use Tangible Cultural Heritage Properties”

https://lex.uz/docs/-4559553 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/4559555 (in Russian, text of the law is missing)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 1021 dated December 20, 2019, “On Approval of Licensing Procedure for Preservation of Immovable Tangible Cultural Heritage Objects”

https://lex.uz/docs/-4654711 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/4657404 (in Russian, text of the law is missing)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 957 dated November 26, 2018, “On Improving the Activities of the National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the UNESCO”

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4079822 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/ru/docs/4079828 (in Russian, text of the law is missing)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 367 dated May 16, 2018 “On the Establishment of the Ugam-Chatkal State Biosphere Reserve”

https://lex.uz/docs/-3739539 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/3739534?query=%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA (in Russian)

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 1062 dated December 21, 2018 “On Approval of the Regulation on the Ugam-Chatkal State Biosphere Reserve”

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/-4135035 (in Uzbek)

https://www.lex.uz/ru/docs/4135031 (in Russian)

Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-4247 dated March 20, 2019 "On Measures to Improve the Public Administration System in Protected Natural Areas"

https://lex.uz/docs/-4249754 (in Uzbek)

https://lex.uz/docs/4249757 (in Russian)