In recent years, reforming the judicial and legal system has been regarded as one of the most priority areas of state policy in the Republic of Uzbekistan. In the Address delivered by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan on 26 December 2025, particular attention was paid to strengthening the independence of the judiciary, ensuring reliable protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, and further improving mechanisms for achieving fair justice. The Address emphasized that the independence of the judiciary is one of the fundamental conditions for building a rule-of-law state. Preventing any unlawful interference in judicial activity, strengthening judges’ material and social guarantees, and ensuring transparency in the selection and appointment of judicial personnel were identified as key tasks. Special emphasis was placed on the need to pay close attention to professional knowledge, life experience, and high moral qualities when selecting candidates for judicial positions. Judicial independence must be ensured not only by law, but also through personal inviolability and professional stability. The Presidential Address also stressed that access to courts for ordinary citizens must be simple, convenient, and fair. In this regard, simplifying judicial procedures, eliminating excessive bureaucratic barriers, and widely introducing digital technologies were identified as important priorities. In particular, improving the electronic justice system will help reduce case consideration periods, minimize the impact of the human factor, and ensure transparency, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the judicial and legal system and strengthening public trust in the courts. In addition, the Address placed special emphasis on ensuring human rights and legitimate interests in criminal justice proceedings. Protecting individuals from unfounded criminal prosecution, fully guaranteeing the right to defence, and ensuring the supremacy of law in the evaluation of evidence were identified as pressing tasks. Strict adherence to the presumption of innocence and prevention of violations of the law at the investigation and trial stages constitute a significant responsibility for judges and law enforcement bodies. For trainees of the Academy of Justice, these issues will play a decisive role in their future professional activities. The Presidential Address also highlighted the importance of ensuring effective judicial oversight over the activities of state bodies through civil and administrative proceedings, which requires strengthening the role of courts in protecting the rights of citizens and business entities. In the activities of administrative courts, ensuring justice and legality in “state–citizen” relations and strengthening legal protection mechanisms through the annulment of unlawful decisions of state bodies were identified as priority tasks. The Address emphasized that the training of qualified personnel is of decisive importance in reforming the judicial and legal system. In this context, it is essential to align the educational content of the Academy of Justice with modern requirements and to introduce practice-oriented training programmes. Special importance is attached to developing logical thinking, systemic analysis, lawful decision-making skills, and academic writing when preparing candidates for judicial positions. The tasks set out in the President’s 2026 Address regarding the judicial and legal system represent a logical continuation of systemic reforms aimed at building a rule-of-law state and civil society. Strengthening judicial independence, ensuring reliable protection of human rights, and introducing transparent and effective judicial mechanisms remain among the most pressing challenges of today. М.Жумаев, [23.01.2026 20:19]Strengthening judicial independence, enhancing the professional and moral capacity of the judiciary, ensuring transparency and fairness in judicial proceedings, and increasing public trust in the courts were identified in the Address as key objectives. Particular attention was paid to ensuring reliable judicial protection of human rights and freedoms as a priority area of state policy, clearly reflecting the humanistic essence of judicial and legal reforms. At the same time, ensuring the supremacy of law in criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings, strengthening procedural guarantees, and developing digital justice systems were identified as important tasks, expanding opportunities to achieve fair justice. This will contribute to reducing the negative impact of the human factor in judicial practice and improving the legality and soundness of judicial decisions. From an academic perspective, the Presidential Address serves as an important guiding and theoretical-practical source for trainees of the Academy of Justice. It once again confirms the necessity for future judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to deeply comprehend professional responsibility, loyalty to the law, and accountability for human destinies. Moreover, for the trainees of the Academy, the Address is not only a political document but also an important programme guideline to be followed in their future professional activities. Every specialist working in the judicial and legal sphere should thoroughly understand these priority directions and contribute to their practical implementation. In conclusion, the tasks outlined in the Presidential Address concerning the judicial and legal system are aimed not only at improving the regulatory and legal framework, but also at elevating judicial culture, legal thinking, and public trust in justice to a new level. The consistent implementation of these priority directions will contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the judicial and legal system, ensuring reliable protection of citizens’ rights and legitimate interests, and building a genuine rule-of-law state in Uzbekistan. Lecturer, Department of Professional SkillsAcademy of Justice, PhDNajmidinova Nilufar Yuldoshovna

Nizomiddin Ernazarov, Head of Department at the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shared his insights with the "Dunyo" Information Agency regarding the awarding of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize to the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, and the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon: "This prestigious award serves as profound international recognition of the consistent efforts made by the leaders of these three nations to strengthen peace, stability, and mutual trust in the region, as well as their commitment to developing good-neighborly relations. In recent years, a completely new political climate based on open dialogue, mutual respect, and constructive cooperation has taken root in Central Asia. This process is a direct result of the firm political will of our heads of state, who have prioritized peace and stability as paramount values, choosing political-diplomatic avenues over confrontation to resolve existing issues. The policy of good-neighborliness and regional solidarity proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has elevated interstate relations to a qualitatively new level. Under this approach, the national interests of each state are ensured in harmony with the interests of neighboring countries, addressing regional issues through collective responsibility. Of particular historical significance are the agreements reached regarding the delimitation and demarcation of state borders, which were previously sensitive issues. These agreements have demonstrated that long-standing complexities can be resolved through political will and mutual compromise. Consequently, security in border areas has been strengthened, facilitating the free movement of citizens and boosting regional trade. Furthermore, active cooperation in transport, communications, and the rational management of water and energy resources serves the sustainable progress of the region. The expansion of cultural and humanitarian ties further strengthens mutual understanding between our peoples. The awarding of the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize to Central Asian leaders signifies global endorsement of the unique model of peace and cooperation emerging in the region—a model based on dialogue rather than pressure. This event reaffirms the commitment of Central Asian states to continue working together in the spirit of mutual respect and good-neighborliness for the sake of future generations."

In the Address delivered by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the Oliy Majlis and the multinational people of the country on December 26, 2025, the declaration of 2026 as “The Year of Developing the Mahalla and Advancing Society” clearly reflected the strategic importance attached to the mahalla institution in the nation’s development. Within the framework of this year, priority has been given to developing the mahalla not merely as a unit of territorial administration, but as a key social, spiritual, and economic pillar of society. It was emphasized that the responsibility of mahallas would be further expanded in addressing citizens’ concerns at the grassroots level, strengthening social protection, supporting entrepreneurship, and enhancing civic engagement. Starting from 2026, comprehensive improvements to infrastructure are planned in more than 9,000 mahallas across the country. Roads, drinking water supply systems, electricity networks, public transport, educational and healthcare facilities, as well as green areas will be modernized as an integrated system. These efforts will be carried out not in a fragmented manner, but through a comprehensive approach aimed at simultaneously resolving the main challenges faced by mahallas. In addition, 2–3 districts will be selected in each region, where all mahallas will undergo full-scale reconstruction, entrepreneurship and service infrastructure will be developed, and a total of 8.5 trillion soums will be allocated for these purposes. The Address placed particular emphasis on the role of local representative bodies. Specifically, to support deputies’ initiatives aimed at improving mahallas, it was decided to allocate 500 billion soums to each electoral district and an additional 330 million soums for each deputies’ initiative. This approach will facilitate the resolution of local issues on the ground, ensure a more comprehensive representation of citizens’ interests, and enhance deputies’ accountability. Decisions adopted from 2026 to grant greater independence to district budgets will mark a fundamental shift in local financial governance. Retaining a portion of value-added tax revenues at the local level, transferring 50 percent of above-plan revenues to district budgets, and keeping revenues from land leases and markets locally will generate approximately 5 trillion soums in additional resources for district budgets. These funds will be directed toward improving mahalla infrastructure and addressing residents’ day-to-day concerns. Moreover, in 2026, for the first time, 20 trillion soums will be allocated directly to regions for the development of mahalla infrastructure. These funds will be channeled into clearly defined, targeted projects that create jobs and increase household incomes, while project-based budgeting will ensure efficiency and transparency. Under the “Industry and Services in the Mahalla” program, it is planned to launch more than 10,000 production and service projects, create 100,000 new jobs, and provide employment for 360,000 people, thereby enhancing the economic potential of mahallas. Advancing society, alongside economic growth, also requires investment in human capital. Accordingly, 1 trillion soums will be allocated to develop sports infrastructure in mahallas, particularly to encourage women’s participation in physical activity. In addition, to promote youth reading culture, school libraries will be supplied annually with 10 million copies of fiction books. Furthermore, efforts are envisaged to ensure openness and transparency within the mahalla system, introduce digital solutions, and elevate the quality of social services aimed at upholding human dignity to a new level, thereby strengthening social stability and improving public welfare. In conclusion, designating 2026 with this title signifies a strategic decision aimed at reinforcing the role of the mahalla as a vital bridge between the state and society and at building a fair, open, and progressive society grounded in active civic participation. Foziljon Otakhonov,Professor, Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan,Doctor of Law

At the new stage of Uzbekistan’s development, a comprehensive set of measures is being implemented aimed at introducing democratic principles into the activities of all state bodies, adapting them to the demands of rapid reforms of the new society, and increasing the efficiency of their work in line with modern trends. In particular, for the purpose of fundamentally democratizing the activities of judicial bodies as an independent and stable branch of state power, and developing them on the basis of open and transparent procedures, more than 50 regulatory and legal acts have been adopted. The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures to increase the efficiency and openness of the activity of the bodies of the judicial community and further strengthen the guarantees of judicial independence,” as well as the new tasks set forth therein, as noted above, became a logical continuation of the implementation of constitutional principles of judicial independence. The practical significance of the Decree lies in the fact that it contributes to improving the legal foundations for expanding the role and importance of the bodies of the judicial community, which are vested with certain powers and are mutually independent, in the process of organizing and managing court activities, as well as in ensuring judicial independence in practice. At the same time, it ensures the incorporation into national legislation of advanced democratic principles enshrined in international documents relating to the activities of the bodies of the judicial community. The Decree expands opportunities for introducing open, public, and transparent mechanisms for training qualified judicial personnel with modern knowledge and the necessary professional skills, selecting the most достойных candidates, and appointing them to judicial positions. Overall, national legislation regulating the activities of judicial community bodies is enriched with new progressive norms, thereby increasing the dynamism of their work. It is especially important that the tasks envisaged by the Decree also impose a number of responsible obligations on the faculty of the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In particular, the relevant provision of the section devoted to the introduction of advanced standards of judicial independence and the improvement of the activities of judicial community bodies sets the task of legislatively establishing clear criteria for assessing a judge’s professional activity based on such requirements as “integrity,” “professional competence,” and “compliance with the rules of judicial ethics.” This, in turn, requires the Academy to fulfill its main mission—training future judges through six-month training courses, improving the qualifications of judges and court staff, and retraining judges included in the reserve for managerial positions. This process presupposes ensuring their moral growth, inner development, formation of professional conscience, as well as the creation and systematic introduction of new, modern, and effective teaching materials that promote the spiritual development of judges. To this end, each department and each instructor of the Academy must apply new approaches in their daily activities and conduct scientific and pedagogical research. A particularly important role in this process is assigned to instructors of the Department of Professional Skills, who are expected to develop and implement methodologies that have a practical impact on increasing the effectiveness of training and retraining personnel possessing high moral, volitional, and professional qualities and capable of ensuring the effective implementation of assigned tasks and ongoing reforms. Another important task set by the Head of State is the formation of a judicial workforce capable of making fair decisions awaited by the people today, endowed with strong will and high professional and moral qualities. In this context, the appointment to judicial positions of legal professionals who lack profound professional knowledge, sufficient life and professional experience, and a high level of moral and ethical culture is unacceptable and is directly linked to the effectiveness of the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Proceeding from this, it is impossible to deny that in today’s society there is a growing objective need for research aimed at developing a new methodology for shaping the moral and ethical qualities of judges. Naturally, this requires conducting fundamental scientific-theoretical and applied research, as well as paying special attention to the spiritual development of judges alongside the formation of their professional knowledge and skills during the training process. The document also provides for new tasks to strengthen guarantees of judicial independence, including revising legislative norms establishing liability for delivering unjust verdicts, rulings, determinations, or decisions, based on international standards of judicial independence. This once again underscores the necessity of fundamentally improving the system for training highly qualified personnel in the judicial sphere. Accordingly, the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan must define systemic measures to elevate its activities aimed at forming a new generation of honest, highly capable, and modern-minded judges to a qualitatively new level. Trainees of the Academy must be able, when considering cases of all categories—civil, criminal, administrative, or economic—to objectively establish factual circumstances and provide legal assessments based on applicable law, paying attention not only to the legality and substantiation of their decisions, but also to their fairness. Only in this way will public trust in judicial bodies increase, and the courts will become a true bastion of justice in society. Overall, the Decree and the tasks stipulated therein strengthen the legal foundations for organizing the educational process at the Academy in accordance with the high demands of the new society, including the formation of practical skills in using modern information technologies and artificial intelligence capabilities, comprehensive scientific and methodological support for judicial activities, and the conduct of fundamental, applied, and innovative research. Ultimately, the level of judicial training and professional development will be raised to a new stage, which will have significant practical importance in bringing the national judicial system closer to international standards and in forming a corps of qualified and morally mature judges. Sherzod AbduqodirovRector of the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan,Doctor of Law

On November 24, 2025, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a pivotal Decree aimed at fundamentally improving the activities of judicial community bodies, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, and enhancing transparency in the selection and appointment of personnel. This document serves as a significant milestone in implementing the objectives set forth in the «Uzbekistan – 2030» Strategy. The Decree defines the priorities as strengthening the principle of self-governance within the judicial community, relying on transparent and clear criteria for the formation of the judicial corps, and broadly introducing openness into candidate selection processes. Furthermore, to ensure gender equality within the judicial system, the proportion of women judges is targeted to reach at least 30 percent. Several key proposals regarding the incorporation of the principle of judicial irremovability into legislation were approved. Specifically: Judges shall be appointed first for a 5-year term, and subsequently on an indefinite basis; Candidates for leadership and higher judicial positions shall be selected through an open competition among judges; Core criteria such as “integrity,” "professional competence," and "adherence to ethical rules" are established at the legislative level. Henceforth, the permanent judicial members of the Council shall consist of: 2 judges from the Supreme Court, 7 judges from regional-level courts, 4 judges from district and city courts. All candidates are recommended by judicial qualification commissions. Non-permanent (public) members of the Council are formed based on recommendations from scientific organizations and civil society institutions. Starting December 15, 2025, the following will be publicly announced on the Council's official website: All vacant positions within the judicial system; Procedures for filling these vacancies; Every stage of the candidate selection and appointment process. Moreover, the practice of requiring redundant documents from candidates will be abolished, and the Council’s information system will be fully integrated with inter-agency databases. In accordance with the Decree: Artificial Intelligence will be utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of judges' performance; The assessment of candidates' psychological profiles will be conducted via an electronic platform; Voting and decision-making processes during Council meetings will be digitalized. The Council has been allocated 4 additional staff units, bringing the total staff count to 32. The Council, the Supreme Court, and the General Prosecutor's Office will prepare analytical materials to review liability for unjust verdicts and decisions based on international criteria and to establish criminal liability for unlawful interference in the activities of Council members. At the same time, the right to defense is guaranteed in disciplinary proceedings against judges; clear criteria for disciplinary sanctions are established, and recommendations for higher positions are prohibited while a sanction is in effect. Under the Decree: Separate quotas for women may be established for admission to the Academy of Justice; The initiative to establish the Association of Women Judges of Uzbekistan was supported; Judges who served as lecturers at the Academy have the right to return to their judicial positions upon completion of their teaching tenure. This Decree will serve to elevate judicial independence and legal reforms to a new level, increasing the professional and institutional efficiency of the judicial community bodies. Nizomiddin Ernazarov, Head of Cabinet, Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan

In order to ensure the implementation of the tasks set out in Presidential Decree No. PF–141 of August 21, 2025, trainees of the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan paid a visit to the Alisher Navoi National Library of Uzbekistan today, on October 18. During the visit, the trainees became closely acquainted with the library’s rich history, its activities, and its digitized scientific and spiritual resources. The detailed information provided by specialists inspired deep respect and strong interest among the trainees in the country’s scientific and cultural heritage. This visit became one of the important steps toward enhancing the trainees’ spiritual development and intellectual capacity.

The Academy of Justice was established by the Presidential Decree of August 21 of the current year entitled “On Measures to Fundamentally Improve the System for Training Highly Qualified Personnel in the Field of Justice” and holds special significance within the framework of the consistent reforms being implemented in the country’s judicial and legal system. It can be stated with confidence that a new stage has begun in the formation of the judiciary based on international standards through further improvement of the system for training highly qualified legal professionals for the judicial system, as well as ensuring the close integration of education, science, and practice. A priority area of the Academy’s activities is the establishment of a system for training comprehensively developed, modern, and highly qualified personnel for the judiciary, preparing candidates for judicial positions, and developing their professional and cultural competencies through the use of interactive teaching methods, advanced information technologies, and artificial intelligence capabilities. In addition, the main objectives of this specialized state educational and research institution include providing scientific and methodological support for judicial activities, conducting fundamental, applied, and innovative research, developing scientifically grounded recommendations for improving legislation in the judicial and legal sphere, and establishing effective cooperation with foreign educational and research institutions specializing in the training of judicial candidates and the professional development of judges. The opening ceremony of the Academy of Justice was attended by senior officials of the national judiciary, public and state figures, judicial veterans, as well as leaders of judicial communities and heads of specialized educational institutions from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan. During the event, the ongoing judicial and legal reforms and their practical outcomes were highly praised, future objectives and their implementation were discussed, and the conditions created at the Academy were presented. On the same day, memorandums of understanding were signed with educational and research institutions from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan specializing in the training of judicial candidates and the professional development of judges. As a continuation of today’s event, an international conference entitled “Forming a Qualified Judiciary in the New Uzbekistan: Effectiveness of Reforms and Development Prospects” will be held tomorrow. It should be noted that in the 2025/2026 academic year, 164 trainees were admitted to the professional retraining courses of the Academy of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, where they will study criminal law, civil law, as well as administrative and economic law.