The transformative power of the Basic Law

The 31nd anniversary of the adoption of the country's Constitution is being celebrated in a particularly upbeat spirit and festive atmosphere, since this year the new version of the Basic Law was adopted as a result of a nationwide referendum. For the first time in the history of national statehood, we have a perfect Constitution in all respects, the priority norms of which have gained direct effect. 

Constitutional reform requires firm political will and courage from any State, and implies the existence of appropriate conditions. 
It is unacceptable to change the Constitution and its provisions in spite of the peculiarities characterizing the socio-political, socio-economic maturity of society, and the requirements of the time and a particular country. 
In Uzbekistan, the historical transformations carried out at the initiative of the head of state over the past seven years have necessitated the improvement of the country's Basic Law. 
During this period, the reforms gained such dynamism and scale that the legal space consisting of the Constitution and laws no longer corresponded to the pace of change. Therefore, the President initiated a fundamental renewal of the Constitution.
At the national referendum, expressing their position on the draft Basic Law, citizens gave an objective assessment of the results of the reforms implemented in the New Uzbekistan. This is evidenced by the fact that more than 90 percent of the nearly 17 million compatriots who participated in the referendum approved the draft of the new Constitution. 
The heads of foreign states, heads of international organizations and reputable experts congratulated the President of the country and, through him, the people of Uzbekistan on holding a historic socio-political event at a high organizational level. 
This testifies to the correctness of the course for the construction of a New Uzbekistan, the epochal significance of a new stage in the development of the republic. 
The reform of the Constitution was the next step of the State towards achieving higher goals for the sake of ensuring the well-being of the people. At the same time, the entry into force of the updated Basic Law imposes a huge responsibility on all of us.
In a society that is being transformed on the basis of the priority provisions of this document, in conditions where ambitious noble goals and objectives are set, it is impossible to live and work with yesterday's mentality, worldview, by outdated standards.
It is from this position that we approach the implementation of the tasks outlined in the decree of the head of state dated May 8, 2023, concerning priority measures for the implementation of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a new version, as well as those arising from the very essence of the Constitution.
Practical work has begun on the third direction of the program of measures approved by the decree — bringing, based on the principle of the rule of law, to a qualitatively new level of the policy of glorifying human dignity, ensuring its rights and freedoms. 
In this case, the main focus is on the direct (direct) and strict application of the norms of the Constitution. It took some time to develop and put into practice the legislative acts provided for in the specified program of measures. The norms of the Constitution came into force on May 1 of this year, therefore, new norms to ensure the priority of human rights and freedoms began to be implemented immediately from that date.
The Prosecutor General's Office, together with other law enforcement and judicial authorities, identified practical measures to widely explain the essence and meaning of the provisions, the need for strict observance of constitutional principles in their application.
More than 2,500 representatives of ministries and departments have been trained according to the module of the training course developed by the Law Enforcement Academy to explain to law enforcement officers the essence of the norms of the Constitution. The activities of such courses are established on an ongoing basis. 
The resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of June 23, 2023 "On some issues of direct application of the norms of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the administration of justice" is of great practical importance in ensuring the direct, rigorous and effective application of the norms of the Constitution.
This resolution, developed on the basis of proposals from the Prosecutor General's Office and other structures, serves to ensure human rights and freedoms, the interests of the state and society in the process of applying the norms of the Constitution not only by courts, but also by law enforcement, control bodies, ministries and departments, in short, all law enforcement agencies. 
Based on the provisions of the Constitution, attention is paid to the development of normative legal acts that contribute to the unconditional provision of human rights and freedoms, their prompt discussion without bureaucratic barriers.
In particular, a draft law on amendments and additions to certain legislative acts has been prepared for submission to Parliament, providing for the improvement of five laws and two codes.
Along with other branches and spheres, the improvement of the activities of the prosecutor's office on the basis of the updated Constitution gives results in a short time. 
On July 15, at an expanded meeting of the Presidium of the Prosecutor General's Office, the priority tasks of the prosecutor's office, arising from the new version of the Constitution, were identified. A factor contributing to the successful implementation of the designated tasks is the setting of specific instructions to the responsible persons in each area of work, and daily monitoring of their implementation.  
This can be judged by the example of cardinal positive changes in indicators reflecting the results of work on the practical provision of human and civil rights and freedoms, the protection of the interests of the state and society, and the unconditional implementation of the execution of laws.
In order to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, the interests of society and the state protected by law, the Prosecutor's office conducted almost 28 thousand inspections in 10 months of this year, according to the results of which about 134 thousand documents of prosecutor's supervision were applied. The violated rights of 321 thousand citizens have been restored. 
During the prosecutor's checks and preliminary investigation, 2.3 trillion soums of damage caused to the interests of citizens, the state and society were recovered.
The work on ensuring legal protection and strengthening the spiritual and moral education of minors has risen to a new level. For this purpose, about 9 thousand propaganda events were held, more than 13.2 thousand persons who committed offenses in this direction were brought to justice, and damages in the amount of 5.2 billion soums were secured.
Activities in the field of combating crime and offenses, coordination of operational investigative and investigative activities are being improved. More than 380 coordination councils of law enforcement agencies have been held in order to timely resolve topical issues and existing problems in this area.   
Based on the initiatives of the head of state, new effective mechanisms have been introduced to combat crime, including corruption. 
The causes and factors that create conditions for corruption in each sphere, industry, ministry or department are discussed in detail with the participation of responsible persons in the ministry and department itself, an objective assessment of existing problems and shortcomings, the activities of persons who have committed such a thing is given. This practice, on the one hand, ensures the inevitability of punishment for crimes, on the other hand, it serves to prevent them. 
Special attention is paid to the protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens when considering criminal, administrative and economic cases in courts. In particular, the participation of the prosecutor in the consideration of about 80 thousand cases by the courts has been ensured.
Priority attention is paid to solving the issues raised in citizens' appeals, eliminating problems of concern to the population. Of the more than 388 thousand appeals received in 10 months of this year, 215 thousand were reviewed by the prosecutor's office, 287 thousand citizens were admitted.
The violated rights of 41 thousand citizens have been restored. The necessary measures have been taken to resolve the issues voiced in almost 91 thousand calls to the helpline of the Prosecutor General's Office.
Practical efforts to apply the norms of the Constitution play an important role in finding solutions to urgent and troubling problems of the population. 
In order to ensure the sustainable supply of energy resources to the population, economic sectors and social facilities in the autumn-winter period, as a result of the intervention of the prosecutor's office, about 300 serious problems were eliminated as soon as possible.
In particular, gas pipelines, power lines, drinking and hot water networks have been laid, gas distribution points, transformers, water pumps and boiler rooms have been updated, apartment buildings and utilities in them have been repaired.
In order to ensure stable supplies of coal products to the local Prosecutor General's Office, a Republican headquarters has been formed and territorial working groups with the participation of prosecutors have been established. To prevent the theft of coal, representatives of the prosecutor's office and other structures are assigned to territorial warehouses and seasonal points.
Railway stations with a risk of theft of coal were identified, and in order to ensure the safe delivery of products to consumers in full, responsible law enforcement officers were identified at the station, and patrol vehicles were allocated. As a result, conditions have been created for the timely delivery of fuel to consumers in the required volumes. 
The work on ensuring the rule of law in the construction sector is also being improved based on new requirements.
Through the integration of the electronic program "Budget Control", implemented in the prosecutor's office, with the relevant systems of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, as well as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, monitoring of the progress of construction of facilities from project development to commissioning has been established at the district-region—republic level. 

Through a special channel on the Internet and a helpline operating at headquarters, an opportunity has been created for the public to discuss the progress of the implementation of programs. 
Based on proposals aimed at eliminating systemic deficiencies and in accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, the criteria for biased assessment have been abolished. More than 46 thousand contractors were audited, as a result, 29 thousand contractors with insufficient potential were removed from the rating list. For the first time, the activities of the procurement commission during the selection process of a contractor have been abolished. Previously inaccessible to the public, the rating scores of contractors and the criteria for their formation, which caused disagreement, began to be conducted openly.
Due to this, artificially inflated expenditures in the amount of 2 trillion 566.6 billion soums, included in the projects included in the state programs of this year, were optimized, which prevented unjustified waste of budget funds. The acceptance of substandard work for 22.2 billion soums and postings in the amount of 15.3 billion soums were prevented.
Global climate change, atmospheric air pollution and the consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the issues of maintaining ecological balance and ensuring citizens' right to an ecologically clean natural environment are given great attention in the Basic Law of the country. 
According to the relevant presidential decree of May 31, a department responsible for monitoring the implementation of legislation in the field of ecology, environmental protection and forestry has been established in the Prosecutor's office.
It has long been characteristic of our people to live in harmony with nature, take care of it, and take care of the purity of water sources. In the New Uzbekistan, these values are regaining their former importance. The Prosecutor's Office is contributing to this noble cause. 
We are constantly monitoring the implementation of the national Green Space project, approved by the decree of the head of state dated December 30, 2021, which ensures strict compliance with the requirements of the imposed moratorium on cutting down trees and shrubs.
Practical assistance is provided to the population, state and non-state structures, and the general public in solving environmental issues. Direct assistance to the implementation of such projects and initiatives remains a priority. 
This season, prosecutors plan to plant 550 thousand seedlings, of which 456 thousand have already been planted. "Gardens of Prosecutors" are being created in all regions of the country.
In the second sector, led by prosecutors, systematic work is carried out on the socio-economic development of territories, comprehensive support for vulnerable segments of the population, employment, business development, elimination of problems at social and other facilities, and the fight against crime. 
Practical assistance was provided to 163,300 needy families and 321,400 citizens included in the relevant notebooks. 
The employment of members of over 177 thousand families has been ensured, more than 8 thousand boys and girls have been employed permanently with the prospect of further growth. 2.2 thousand young people were assisted in obtaining loans, 5.6 thousand in allocating land for agriculture, and 12 thousand in providing subsidies.
More than 86 thousand women and girls were employed, and over 13.6 thousand more were trained in order to further establish their own business. Practical assistance was provided in allocating 10,605 compatriots with credit funds worth almost 100 billion soums.
Prosecutors on an ongoing basis provide local Councils of People's Deputies and citizens' self-government bodies with information on the state of law enforcement and the fight against crime. The essence and significance of the adopted laws are brought to the attention of the population and direct executors. In this case, close cooperation has been established with scientists and experts, representative authorities, mahalla activists, and the public. The possibilities of mass media are effectively used.
By a presidential decree dated May 31 of this year, the Concept of organizing spiritual and educational work in the prosecutor's office was adopted, which brought activities in this direction to a new level.
Special attention is paid to the glorification of human dignity, education of youth in the spirit of patriotism and devotion to the Motherland by bringing to the younger generation objective and truthful information about the life and activities of employees of the prosecutor's office who fell for the freedom and independence of the country.
During the period of repression, along with thousands of victims, workers in our field also suffered innocently. Criminal cases were opened against 150 of them who opposed injustice, and 30 dedicated employees were shot. This is information established over a short period of time.
By an order dated September 11 this year, a "roadmap" for the rehabilitation and perpetuation of the memory of repressed prosecutors was approved, a working group headed by the Deputy Prosecutor General was created to carry out the tasks set. Along with the staff of the Prosecutor's office, the working group includes representatives of scientific institutions, museums, and other organizations.
The responsibility of the Prosecutor's office, which is entrusted with the tasks of protecting the legitimate interests of citizens and the state, ensuring strict observance of human rights, the supremacy of the Constitution and laws, has increased as never before. 
With the entry into force of the updated Constitution, a new and responsible stage in the work of the Prosecutor's Office has also begun.
The system, which is being improved in all respects thanks to the attention and initiatives of the head of state, has all the necessary capabilities to honorably fulfill the priority tasks facing the Prosecutor's office.

Nigmatilla Yuldoshev, 
The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan.