IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLES 14 AND 52 OF THE UN CONVENTION: PRIORITIES FOR UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This article analyzes the provisions of Articles 14 and 52 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, alongside their significance for preventing money laundering, conducting enhanced due diligence on public officials’ accounts, and ensuring asset recovery. The objective of the study is to identify the main shortcomings of the institutional and legal mechanisms operating in Uzbekistan and to outline key directions for implementing advanced foreign experience. The research utilizes normative-dogmatic, comparative-legal, and systemic methods, as well as document content analysis. The provisions of the Convention are benchmarked against FATF standards, the conclusions of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report following the fifth round of monitoring of Uzbekistan, and the legal practices of Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Nigeria, Singapore, Ukraine, the United States, and Jersey. Based on the findings, priority areas were identified for improving mechanisms to verify beneficial ownership information, applying enhanced due diligence measures to public officials, organizing internal controls within financial and non-financial entities, and establishing liability for legal entities. Rather than the direct borrowing of foreign institutions, the author proposes their phased adaptation to the national legal system, encompassing the refinement of internal control mechanisms, the application of proportionate liability measures to legal entities, and an increase in the effectiveness of financial intelligence. Implementing these proposed measures will contribute to the aligned development of national legislation, internal control mechanisms, and financial monitoring practices.