REGULATION OF THE INSTITUTE OF EXTRADITION IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN: STATE, PROBLEMS, AND TRENDS

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal regulation of the extradition institution established in Articles 599–609 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The purpose of the study is to identify the procedural foundations of the extradition process, guarantees of individual rights and practical application problems and develop scientifically based proposals for their resolution. Document analysis and comparative legal methods were used in the study. The Code of Criminal Procedure of Uzbekistan, bilateral extradition treaties, the European Convention on Extradition, the Minsk and Chisinau Conventions were studied as primary sources. Secondary sources included statistics of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan (2020–2023, N=342 surveys), case law of the European Court of Human Rights, and scientific literature. The comparative analysis was carried out with the legislation of Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan, and South Korea. The results showed that the extradition process in Uzbekistan is based on a “prosecutor-centric” model and judicial oversight lags behind European standards. Transit extradition is not sufficiently regulated. Furthermore, it substantiates the need to improve the legal grounds for refusing extradition, strengthen international cooperation mechanisms, and enhance judicial oversight as a means of ensuring more effective protection of human rights. The findings may contribute to the harmonization of national legislation with international standards. Proposals aimed at improving the current legal framework are presented.