According to Konkubaeva, there is a general decline in crime in the country; however, the number of thefts and fraud cases has been increasing. She noted that the existing system of punishments was unbalanced: for theft, for example, a person could be sentenced to five years in prison, while corrupt officials often escaped with a fine of 5,000 soms.
“The abolition of the recidivism institute raised questions: committing theft again leads to more serious consequences. In the case of recidivism, for a repeated crime, such as theft, one could face a sentence of up to seven years. The victim has the opportunity to file a counterclaim for damages, but even in this case, we continue to apply strict measures,” she explained.
Konkubaeva added that the concept of recidivism should be preserved, but it is necessary to review the terms of punishment and eliminate contradictory norms. She also pointed out existing discrepancies in the legislation with the Constitution, which prohibits double liability for the same crime. If Parliament approves the new bill, an expert review may reveal shortcomings.
The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Erkebek Ashirkhodzhaev stated that the bill does not violate the Constitution, as it only proposes to tighten punishments, and if necessary, the terms of imprisonment can be reviewed.
