The absence of judicial independence continues to represent a serious menace to state development and to human liberties.
The executive controls the initiation and drafting of legislation, exercises scrutiny over the judiciary and dominates local officials through powers of appointment and budgetary control. Prosecutorial bias is used to influence courts and interfere with advocates’ work. A March 2003 constitutional amendment formally reduced the powers of the president.
On a positive note, the criminal code was amended in late 2003 to reduce the number of articles punishable by death to two.
Uzbekistan-Attacks on Justice 2005-Publications-2008 (full text, PDF)