This article examines Uzbekistan’s legal framework for asset recovery and its alignment with global standards. It highlights constitutional protections of property, existing civil and criminal provisions, and recent reforms, while identifying gaps in this regard. The study concludes that Uzbekistan must adopt unified definitions, strengthen procedural mechanisms, and harmonize national legislation with international best practices to improve asset recovery and reinforce the rule of law.

Asset recovery, illicit assets, legal framework

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PD-67 dated May 8, 2023 “On priority measures to implement the new edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan”. https://lex.uz/docs/6461609

Civil Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Adopted on 29.08.1996, entered into force on 01.03.1997. https://lex.uz/docs/180552#197161

Cassella, S. D. (2013). Asset Forfeiture Law in the United States. 2nd ed.; Anthony Davidson Gray. “Forfeiture Provisions and the Criminal/Civil Divide.” New Criminal Law Review: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal, vol. 15, no. 1, 2012, pp. 32–67. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1525/nclr.2012.15.1.32.

Nelson, C. “The Constitutionality of Civil Forfeiture.” The Yale Law Journal, vol. 125, no. 8, 2016, pp. 2446–518. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43894612.; Van den Berg, Michael. “Proposing a Transactional Approach to Civil Forfeiture Reform.” University of Pennsylvania Law Review, vol. 163, no. 3, 2015, pp. 867–926. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24247887.

Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Adopted on 22.09.1994, entered into force on 01.04.1995. https://lex.uz/docs/111453

Khudaikulov F.Kh. The objective side of the crime of money laundering and its optional features: analysis and proposal // Legal aspects of combating corruption and money laundering (a collection of materials of the republican scientific and practical conference). T.: TDYuU, 2019. pp. 83-88.

Aymuratov, B. (2024). Issues of improving liability for legalization of proceeds from criminal activities. Journal of Academic Research of the New Uzbekistan, 1(7), 186–189. retrieved from https://in-academy.uz/index.php/yoitj/article/view/34552

On Approving the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ID-29646). https://regulation.gov.uz/uz/d/29646

Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Adopted on 22.09.1994, entered into force on 01.04.1995. https://lex.uz/docs/111460

Akbutaev A., Akhmadov A. "Criminal Assets" or theoretical aspects of criminal assets Bulletin of the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan Issue 2 (54). – T., 2023. pp. 68-69.

Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Adopted on 22.09.1994, entered into force on 01.04.1995. https://lex.uz/docs/111460

Criminal procedural law: Textbook / Edited by Doctor of Law, Professor M. A. Rajabova (Completed and revised third edition). – T.: Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2019. pp. 318-319.

Akhmadov A. Problems of Applying Criminal-Procedural Measures in the Recovery of “Criminal Assets” from Foreign Countries and Issues of Improvement of Legal Documents in this Regard. Journal of Law Research. 2023, 8 vol., issue 7, pp. 107-109.

Ibid.

Zokirov B.P.. Procedural aspects of returning criminal proceeds taken abroad to Uzbekistan. PhD dissertation. –T., Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 2022. p.82.

Kadirova M.Kh.. Evidence and proof in criminal proceedings / textbook - T.: TDYuU publishing house, 2024. – 148 p.

Akhmadov A. Problems of Applying Criminal-Procedural Measures in the Recovery of “Criminal Assets” from Foreign Countries and Issues of Improvement of Legal Documents in this Regard. Journal of Law Research. 2023, 8 vol., issue 7, pp. 107-109.

Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Administrative Responsibility. Adopted on 22.09.1994, entered into force on 01.04.1995. https://lex.uz/docs/97664#201796

"On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with Improving the System of Combating the Legalization of Proceeds from Criminal Activity, the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction" (ID-23029). https://regulation.gov.uz/uz/document/23029

Ivory, R. (2014). Corruption, Asset Recovery, and the Protection of Property in Public International Law: The Human Rights of Bad Guys. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107295302

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan (August 26, 2004 No. 660-II) “On Combating the Legalization of Proceeds from Criminal Activities, the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”. https://lex.uz/docs/283717

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (as amended by the Criminal Finances Act 2017). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/29/contents

Brown, S. (2022). Cryptocurrencies and corruption: Risks and regulatory challenges. Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, 30(2), 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRC-06-2021-0062

Reuter, P., & Truman, E. M. (2004). Chasing Dirty Money: The Fight Against Money Laundering. Institute for International Economics. https://bookstore.piie.com/book-store/3676.html

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 660-II dated August 26, 2004 “On Combating the Legalization of Proceeds from Criminal Activities, the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”. https://lex.uz/docs/283717

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.-682 “On Normative-Legal Acts” dated 20.04.2021, https://lex.uz/docs/5378966

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Approving the Strategy for the Development of the National System of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Combating the Legalization of Proceeds from Crime, the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction” No.6252 (dated June 28, 2021). https://lex.uz/docs/5482727

Ibid.

Kudratillaev K. (2023). Foreign and domestic experience in solving predicate crimes. Society and Innovations, 4(2/S), pp.293-296. https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-1415-vol4-iss2/S

Regulation on the procedure for implementing international cooperation in the field of combating the legalization of proceeds from criminal activities, the financing of terrorism and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Appendix 2 to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 402 (dated 29.06.2021). https://lex.uz/docs/5482456

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 402 (dated 29.06.2021) “On additional measures to implement the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On combating the legalization of proceeds from criminal activities, the financing of terrorism and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”. https://lex.uz/docs/5482456

Akbutaev A., Akhmadov A. “Criminal Assets” or theoretical aspects of criminal assets Bulletin of the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan Issue 2 (54). – T., 2023. – pp. 68

Article 25, Part 4, of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.703 “On Courts” dated July 28, 2021. https://lex.uz/docs/5534923

Resolution No. 1 of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan (dated 11.02.2011) “On certain issues of judicial practice in cases of legalization of proceeds from criminal activity”. https://lex.uz/docs/1766419

Ibid.

Resolution No. 1 of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan (dated 11.02.2011) “On certain issues of judicial practice in cases of legalization of proceeds from criminal activity”. https://lex.uz/docs/1766419

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 08.08.2022 No. 788 “On State Civil Service”, https://lex.uz/docs/6145972

OECD (2024), Baseline Report of the Fifth Round of Monitoring Anti-Corruption Reforms in Uzbekistan: Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/0c24d6de-ru.

Pop, L.; Kotlyar, D.; Rossi, I. 2023. Asset and Interest Disclosure: A Technical Guide to an Effective Form. World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/39943

Ismailov B.I., Nasriev I.I. Issues of increasing the effectiveness of departmental measures to combat corruption//Teaching and methodological manual.-T.: Academy of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Higher School of Judges of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 2020.- pp. 266-268.