The legislation on civil proceedings shall consist of this Code and other legislative acts.

Legislation on civil proceedings establishes the procedure for consideration and resolution of cases of writ proceedings, cases of claim proceedings, cases of special proceedings, cases related to the decision of an arbitration court, and cases related to the recognition and enforcement of decisions of foreign courts and foreign arbitration courts (tribunals).

If an international treaty — to which the Republic of Uzbekistan is party — establishes other rules than those contained in the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan on civil proceedings, the rules of the international treaty shall apply.

Tasks of civil proceedings shall include the following:

The correct, timely consideration and resolution of civil cases with a view to protecting the personal, political, economic and social rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the rights and legally protected interests of enterprises, institutions, organizations, non-governmental associations and citizens' self-governance bodies (hereinafter – the organizations);

Promotion of the strengthening of the rule of law and order, ensuring democracy, social justice, civil peace and national harmony;

Forming a respectful attitude towards the law and the court.

In accordance with the Constitution, everyone shall be guaranteed judicial protection of his/her rights, freedoms and legitimate interests.

Any interested person shall have the right, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation on civil proceedings, to apply to the civil court (or court) for protection of the violated or contested right or legally protected interest.

The waiver of the right to appeal to the court shall not be valid.

Appeals to the court shall be made in the following forms:

Statement of claim — for disputes arising out of civil law relations;

Petition — for writ proceedings, special proceedings, and in other cases provided for by this Code;

when appealing to the respective appellate or cassation instance courts — the procedure shall be carried out in the form of a complaint (or protest).

The appeal and the documents attached thereto may be sent to the court as an electronic document.

A civil case shall be formed by the court on the basis of documents presented to the court by persons participating in the case and other participants in civil proceedings or documents demanded by the court, as well as judicial acts.

A civil case can be formed in electronic form.

A civil case, formed in electronic form, may have a hard copy on paper.

When forming a civil case in electronic form, persons participating in the case and other participants in civil proceedings shall be entitled to present documents to the court in electronic form. Written documents presented to the court by persons participating in the case and other participants in civil proceedings shall be enclosed to the case in electronic form, after which the written documents shall be returned to the persons who submitted them.

Where a civil case is formed in electronic form, court decisions shall be verified by the electronic digital signature of the judge(s), and the records of court sessions and procedural actions shall be verified by the electronic digital signature of the presiding judge and the court session secretary.

The transfer of an electronically generated civil case to another court or other body shall be done through information systems.

The court shall make a decision, ruling, resolution, and order on the matter under consideration and resolution.

The court of first instance shall take a decision on the merits of the case, while a court order shall be issued in the cases provided for in Chapter 18 of this Code.

The appellate, cassation, and supervisory instance courts issue a ruling based on the results of the case review.

The Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall issue a decision based on the results of the case review under supervisory procedure.

The court, on the basis of the consideration of a case concerning an administrative offence brought under its competence pursuant to the law, shall issue a ruling.

A ruling shall be rendered by the court on matters that are not resolved on the merits of the case.

Justice in civil cases shall be administered only by a court in accordance with the rules established by this Code.

Civil justice in civil matters shall be administered on the basis of equality before the law and the court, regardless of the sex, race, nationality, language, religion, beliefs, social origin, or social status of individuals, as well as regardless of the organizational-legal form, form of ownership, location, or any other circumstances pertaining to legal entities.

In the administration of civil justice, judges shall be independent and be abide only by the law.

Any interference in the work of judges in administering justice shall be inadmissible and shall be punishable by law.

Civil proceedings shall be conducted on the basis of adversarial nature and equality of arms.

Civil proceedings in Uzbekistan shall be conducted in Uzbek, Karakalpak, or the language of the majority population in the area.

Persons who do not speak the language in which the proceedings are conducted shall have the right to be fully acquainted with the case file, to testify and give explanations, to appear in court, to make statements and make petitions in their native language or in another language they speak, and to use the services of an interpreter in accordance with the procedure established by this Code.

Court documents issuance of which has been requested in writing by a person participating in the case who does not speak the language of the proceedings shall be delivered in a version translated into his/her native language or into another language he/she speaks.

Proceedings in all courts shall be open.

The hearing in closed court shall be held for cases containing information constituting State secrets, the secrets of adoption and in other cases stipulated by law.

Closed court proceedings shall be permitted in order to prevent the disclosure of information about the private life of the persons participating in the case, to preserve the confidentiality of correspondence and other legally protected secrets.

In closed court proceedings, the persons participating in the case and, where necessary, witnesses, experts, specialists and interpreters shall also be present.

The hearing of a case in closed court shall be conducted in accordance with all the rules of civil proceedings. The use of videoconferencing shall not be permitted in closed court.

In all cases, the court decision shall be read publicly.

Judicial acts that have come into force may be published on the court's official website with the consent of the parties or with depersonalization, except for judicial acts adopted in closed court.

When examining a civil case, the court must directly verify the evidence related to the case: it must hear the explanations of the persons involved in the case, the testimonies of witnesses, the conclusions of experts, and the advice (explanations) of specialists; examine written evidence; and inspect physical and digital evidence.

The proceedings shall be handled orally.

The court shall be obliged to resolve cases on the basis of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The court shall also apply other acts of legislation if they do not contradict with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In the absence of rules of law governing the disputed relationship, the court shall apply the rules of law governing similar relations, and in the absence of such rules, shall resolve the dispute based on the general principles and meaning of the laws.

In line with the law or an international treaty to which Uzbekistan is a party, the court shall apply the rules of law of a foreign State.

The court, not being limited to the presented materials and explanations, shall have the right to take measures in accordance with the law for full, complete and objective clarification of the real circumstances of the case, rights and obligations of the parties.

The court shall explain to persons participating in the case their rights and obligations, warn of the consequences of the commission or failure to commit of procedural actions and assist persons participating in the case in exercising their rights.

Judicial acts which have come into force shall be binding on all State and other bodies, organizations, officials and citizens and shall be subject to execution throughout the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Non-execution of the judicial act shall entail the liability provided for by law.

The binding nature of the judicial act shall not deprive interested persons of the opportunity to apply to the court for protection of their rights and legally protected interests, the dispute about which was not considered and resolved by the court.

A civil case (hereinafter — the case) at first instance shall be considered by a judge alone. In the sole consideration and resolution of the case, the judge shall act on behalf of the court.

The composition of the court for a particular case is formed using an automated information system, taking into account the scope of work and specialization of judges, with the exception of the influence of persons interested in the outcome of the trial.

The examination of a case in the appellate, cassation, and supervisory instance courts shall be carried out by a panel composed of three judges.

The review of a case under the supervisory procedure by the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be conducted when the majority of the Presidium members are present.

In a collegial consideration of the case, one of the judges shall preside over the court session.

All judges shall have equal rights in the consideration and resolution of a case.

A case initiated by a judge or a panel of judges shall be terminated by that judge or panel of judges.

A judge or one of the judges may be replaced in the following cases:

self-denial or rejection of a judge when appealed and satisfied in accordance with the procedure established by this Code;

when it is not possible to hear the case in time due to the absence of a judge.

All issues arising in the course of the proceedings shall be resolved by the judge's sole discretion, while in case of a collegiate panel it shall be resolved by a majority vote of the judges.

No judge may abstain from voting in the case of a collegial resolution. The presiding judge shall be the last to vote.

A judge who remains in a minority shall be obliged to sign a judicial act and shall have the right to express a dissenting opinion in writing. The dissenting opinion of the judge shall be enclosed to the case in a sealed envelope, but shall not be made public. The dissenting opinion of a judge shall not be communicated to the persons participating in the case. A higher court shall be entitled to get familiar with a dissenting opinion of the judge.

A judge who has examined a case in a court of first instance shall not be allowed to re-examine the same case if the decision of the court has been annulled by the appellate, cassation, or supervisory instance court, except in cases involving newly discovered circumstances or reconsideration of a decision adopted in absentia.

A judge who examined a case in a court of first instance may not participate in the examination of the same case in the appellate, cassation, or supervisory instance courts.

A judge who participated in the examination of a case in the appellate instance court may not participate in the examination of the same case in the court of first instance, or in the cassation or supervisory instance courts.

A judge who participated in the examination of a case in the cassation instance court may not participate in the examination of the same case in the court of first instance, or in the appellate or supervisory instance courts.

A judge who participated in the examination of a case in the supervisory instance court may not participate in the examination of the same case in the court of first instance, or in the appellate or cassation instance courts, nor in the re-examination of the case under the supervisory procedure by a higher court.

A judge may not hear the case and shall be subject to challenge if he/she:

1) Participated as a judge during the previous hearing of this case and his/her repeated participation in the hearing of the case is inadmissible in accordance with the requirements of this Code;

2) Is personally, directly or indirectly interested in the outcome of the case or there are other circumstances that call into question his/her objectivity (neutrality) and impartiality;

(3) Participated as a judge of the court of arbitration, prosecutor, expert, specialist, interpreter, court session secretary, witness and/or representative during the previous hearing of the case;

4) Is a relative of the party or other persons participating in the case;

5) Is a relative of the judge included in the panel hearing the case.

The grounds for the challenging referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 21 of this Code shall also apply to prosecutor, expert, specialist, interpreter, and court session secretary.

The expert, specialist and interpreter may be challenged if they are in an official or other dependence on the parties or other persons participating in the case, while the expert and specialist may also be challenged if they have conducted an audit or given an opinion, materials of which served as the ground for the institution of the case.

In the presence of circumstances referred to in Articles 21 and 22 of this Code, a judge, prosecutor, expert, specialist, interpreter, and court session secretary must recuse themselves. On the same grounds, they may be challenged by those participating in the case.

A challenge to a prosecutor, expert, specialist, interpreter, or court session secretary may also be considered upon the court's initiative.

A challenge shall be reasoned and claimed before the start of the hearing of the merits of the case. A later challenge shall only be admitted when the basis for the challenge has become known to the court or the person making the challenge after the proceedings have commenced.

A repeated challenge on the same grounds cannot be claimed by the same person. Should a claim for repeated challenge be made, it shall not be subject to review.

If a challenge was claimed, the court must hear the opinion of the persons participating in the case, as well as the person to whom the challenge is made, should the challenged person wish to give an explanation.

The question of challenging a judge hearing a case in person shall be settled by the court chair, while in a single-bench court — by the same judge.

Other judges who are members of the panel shall be allowed to challenge a judge — a member of the panel of judges — in the absence of the challenged judge. If the number of votes given for and against the challenge is equal, the judge shall be considered challenged.

A challenge claimed in relation to two judges or to the entire bench in a collegiate hearing shall be considered by the same bench by a simple majority of votes.

In order to resolve the issue of challenging, the judge (court) shall leave to a separate room (consultation room) and shall render a ruling on either accepting or rejecting the challenge.

The question of recusal and the challenge of a prosecutor, expert, specialist, interpreter, and court session secretary shall be resolved by the court hearing the case in line with the procedure established in this Article.

If a judge is challenged, the case shall be considered by the same interdistrict or district (city) civil court but by another judge, or shall be referred to another interdistrict or district (city) civil court for consideration.

If the case is heard in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent city courts, the case shall be considered in the same court, but in a different composition of the court.

If the court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional or Tashkent city courts, after the satisfaction of the refusal for the reasons specified in Article 21 of this Code, it is not possible to form a new court, the case shall be transferred to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In this case, the case is considered in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan or sent to another relevant court by order of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The civil court shall have jurisdiction over the following cases:

1) On disputes arising from civil, family, labour, housing, land, and other legal relations, if at least one of the parties is a citizen, except in cases where the resolution of such disputes is referred by law to the jurisdiction of other courts or other bodies;

2) On special proceedings, listed in Article 293 of this Code;

3) On cases specified in Chapter 18 of this Code and resolved under the writ proceedings;

4) On contesting the decisions of arbitration courts and on issuing writs of execution for enforcement of decisions of arbitration courts;

5) On recognition and enforcement of decisions of foreign courts and foreign arbitration courts (tribunals).

6) On contesting the decisions of enterprises, institutions, organizations, public associations and actions (inaction) of their officials not arising from administrative and other public legal relations.

The courts shall also have jurisdiction over other cases referred to their competence by law.

When several interrelated claims are brought together, some of which fall within the jurisdiction of the civil court and others fall within the jurisdiction of the economic court, all claims shall be subject to consideration by the civil court.

It is not allowed to combine several related claims, some of which are within the jurisdiction of the civil court, and others of the administrative court.

Cases referred to in Article 26 of this Code shall be considered by interdistrict, district (city) civil courts, except where the consideration of such cases is referred by law to the competence of other courts.

The courts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent city courts shall consider cases on adoption of a foreign citizen or stateless person who has applied, as well as other cases included in its competence by law.

The court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional, Tashkent city courts, depending on the circumstances, may take any case from the inter-district, district (city) court on civil cases and accept it as a court of first instance or transfer the case from one court to another inter-district, district court. (city) court.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall consider cases falling within its competence by law and shall be entitled — depending on special circumstances — to withdraw any case from any court of the Republic of Uzbekistan and accept it for trial as a court of first instance or transfer the case from one court to another appropriate court.

A case accepted by a court for trial — subject to the rules of competence — shall be decided by the court on the merits, although it subsequently became subject to the competence of another court.

The court shall refer the case to another court in the events if:

1) It recognizes that the case will be heard in another court in a timely and comprehensive manner, in particular where most of the evidence is located;

2) After the challenge of one or more judges, their replacement in this court becomes impossible;

3) It is revealed that during the hearing of the case in this court the case was accepted for proceedings in violation of the rules of competence.

If a claim is presented to a court in civil cases in violation of the rules of jurisdiction, the statement of claim (statement) is submitted for consideration to the economic court or administrative court within the jurisdiction.

If during the consideration of the case it is revealed that the statement of claim (statement) was accepted for proceedings in violation of the rules of jurisdiction, the civil court issues a ruling to transfer the case materials to the economic court or administrative court of jurisdiction and terminate the civil proceedings.

A private complaint (protest) may be filed against a decision of a civil court to transfer a statement of claim (statement) or case materials to another court within its jurisdiction.

A statement of claim (statement), case materials transferred from a civil court to another court under jurisdiction must be accepted by the court to which they were transferred.

Disputes on jurisdiction between courts are not allowed in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The transfer of a case from one court to another court shall be made on the basis of a court ruling upon expiry of the time limit for appealing (protesting) this ruling, while in the case of a complaint (protest) — after the ruling is rendered on dismissal of the complaint (protest).

A case sent from one court to another shall be accepted for consideration by the court to which it was sent.

Disputes about the competence shall not be allowed.

Claims shall be filed with the court in the activity area of which the defendant has a permanent residence or permanent occupation.

Claims in relation to organizations shall be filed with the court at the place of their State registration.

Suits against a civil defendant whose place of residence is unknown may be brought before a court at the location of his/her property or at the last known place of his/her residence.

Suits against a civil defendant who has no place of residence in the Republic of Uzbekistan may be filed with a court at the location of his/her property or at the last known place of his/her residence in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Suits on recovery of alimony, on establishing a paternity, and compensation for damage caused by injury or other damage to health or death of the breadwinner may also be filed by the plaintiff at his/her place of residence.

Suits on compensation for damages caused by the collision of ships, as well as on recovery of remuneration for the provision of help and rescue in the water may be filed with a court also at the location of the civil defendant's ship or the port of registry of the ship.

Suits arising from contracts specifying the place of performance may be filed with court also at the place of performance of the contract.

Suits on compensation of the damage caused to property of a citizen or a legal person may be filed with a court also in a place of causing of damage.

Suits arising from the activity of a branch of the legal person may be filed with a court also at the location of the branch.

Suits against several civil defendants who live or are in different places, or against civil defendants who are legal persons and are in different places shall be filed with a court either at the place of residence or the place of State registration of one of the civil defendants at the choice of the plaintiff.

Suits on the restoration of labour, pension and housing rights and for the return of property or its value associated with compensation for harm caused to a citizen by an unlawful conviction, unlawful criminal prosecution, unlawful use of remand in custody as a preventive measure, or unlawful use of administrative penalties in the form of arrest may also be filed with a court at the plaintiff's place of residence.

Suits on dissolution of marriage may be filed with a court at the plaintiff's place of residence when it is difficult for the plaintiff to travel to an inter-district, district or municipal civil court at the defendant's place of residence because of the presence of minor children at his/her care, as well as due to a disability or serious illness.

Suits on dissolution of marriage with persons declared missing or incompetent due to their mental disorder or with persons sentenced to at least three years' deprivation of liberty may — at the plaintiff's discretion — be heard in the court of his/her place of residence.

Suits on the right to a structure, on release of property from an arrest, on establishment of the procedure for using a land plot shall fall within the competence of a court at the location of the structure, property, or land plot.

Suits filed by a legator's creditors prior to acceptance of an inheritance by heirs shall fall within the competence of the court at the location of the inherited property or the main part thereof.

Claims against carriers arising from contracts on transportation of passengers, cargo, or luggage shall be filed at the place of state registration of the transport organization to which the claim was filed in accordance with the established procedure.

The parties may change by mutual agreement the territorial competence of a given case.

The competence established by Article 35 of this Code shall not be changed by agreement between the parties.

Regardless of competence, a counterclaim shall be brought in court at the place of the original claim.

A civil claim arising out of a criminal case — unless it has been asserted or approved in the course of criminal proceedings — shall be brought for consideration in civil proceedings under general rules of competence of civil cases.

Parties, third persons, their representatives, claimants, and other interested persons in cases of special court proceedings, the prosecutor, state administration bodies, organizations and individuals participating in the case to protect the rights and legally protected interests of other persons shall be recognized as persons participating in the case.

Persons involved in the case shall get acquainted with the case materials, receive extracts from them, make copies, file a statement of refusal, provide evidence, participate in the examination of evidence, ask questions, file complaints, petitions to other persons involved in the case and persons assisting in the administration of justice to submit, to give oral and written explanations to the court, to state their arguments on all issues arising during the trial, to file objections, petitions, arguments against other persons, to appeal (protest) against court documents, to demand compulsory execution of court documents , have the right to be present and to exercise their rights in the event of an act by the state executor.

Persons participating in the case shall also enjoy other procedural rights, stipulated by this Code.

Individuals participating in the case shall exercise the procedural rights granted to them in good faith and perform the duties assigned to them.

The ability to have civil procedure rights and duties (legal capacity) shall be recognized equally for all citizens and organizations.

The ability to exercise their rights and duties in court shall belong to citizens who have reached the age of majority, as well as to organizations.

Protection of the rights and legally protected interests of minors, i.e. citizens between the ages of 14 and 18, as well as citizens recognized as having limited legal capacity shall be pursued in court by their parents, adoptive parents, or guardians. This shall not, however, deprive minors and citizens recognized as having limited legal capacity of the right to participate in such cases.

Minors have the right to personally defend their rights and legally protected interests in court in cases of recovery of alimony from parents, as well as in cases arising from employment-related legal relationships and agreements related to the management of wages or other income. The issue of involving their parents, adoptive parents or guardians to assist minors in such cases shall be decided by the court.

A minor who has reached the age of sixteen may exercise his rights and obligations in person in court in the event that he is declared legally competent (emancipation) in accordance with the procedure established by law.

The rights and legally protected interests of minors under the age of fourteen, as well as those of citizens who have been declared legally incapable due to their mental disorder shall be protected in court by their legitimate representatives, such as parents, adoptive parents, or guardians.

The plaintiff (claimant) and the defendant are the parties in civil proceedings.

The plaintiff is a person who applies to court to protect his/her violated or contested rights or legally protected interests or in whose interests a case has been initiated.

The defendant is the person to whom the claim is brought.

The claimant is the person who has filed a claim in special proceedings and other cases stipulated by this Code.

Parties shall enjoy equal procedural rights and have equal responsibilities.

The plaintiff shall have the right to change the ground or subject matter of the asserted claims, make additional claims, increase or decrease the amount of claims, and/or fully or partially waive them.

The defendant shall have the right to fully or partially recognize the claims of the plaintiff and bring a counterclaim.

In litigation, the parties have the right to complete the case at any stage of the proceedings by concluding a settlement agreement or by concluding a mediation agreement in the court of first instance until the court goes to a separate room (counsel) to receive the judicial document.

A suit may be brought jointly by several plaintiffs or against several defendants (joinder). Joinder shall also be permitted in special proceedings.

Joinder shall be permitted if:

Common rights or responsibilities of several plaintiffs or defendants constitute the subject matter of the dispute;

Rights and responsibilities of several plaintiffs or defendants have the same ground;

Homogeneous rights and responsibilities constitute the subject matter of the dispute.

Each of the plaintiffs and defendants acts independently in relation to the other party in the proceedings. Third parties may also be subject to joinder.

Joined parties may entrust one of the joined parties with the case administration.

The court, taking into account the nature of the disputed legal relationship, shall have the right to involve a defendant who has not been involved in the case, on own initiative or at the request of the parties.

When another defendant is involved in a case, the case consideration shall be re-launched.

The court, having established that a claim has been brought against the wrong person to be sued under the claim may — prior to taking a decision — allow the improper defendant to be replaced by a proper defendant with the consent of the plaintiff.

If the plaintiff does not agree to the replacement of the defendant by another person, the court may engage that person as a co-defendant.

The court shall render a ruling on the replacement of the improper defendant.

After the replacement of the improper defendant, the proceedings shall start from the beginning again.

In case of withdrawal of either party, a third person, or a legal representative in disputable legal relationship or relationship established by the decision of court (death of the citizen, reorganization of the legal entity, assignment of the claim, transfer of the debt, etc.), the court shall allow replacement of these persons by their successors.

Succession shall be possible at any stage of civil proceedings. A ruling shall be rendered on the entry of a legal successor into the trial process.

After a party is replaced by a legal successor, the trial process shall continue at the stage at which the replacement was made.

For a successor, all acts committed in the trial process prior to his/her entry shall be binding to the same extent as they would have been binding on the person replaced by the successor. The successor shall have the right to consult all the case files.

Third parties making independent claims on the subject matter of the dispute may intervene before the court takes a decision. They shall enjoy all rights and bear all obligations of the plaintiff.

If the third parties making independent claims on the subject matter of the dispute have entered into the case after the beginning of the court proceedings, the case shall be heard from the beginning.

Third parties who do not make independent claims on the subject matter of the dispute may intervene on the side of the plaintiff or defendant before the court decision, if the decision in the case may affect their rights or responsibilities with regard to either of the parties. They may also be invited to participate in the case at the request of the parties, the prosecutor or other persons participating in the case or upon the court's initiative.

Third parties who do not make independent claims on the subject matter of the dispute shall enjoy procedural rights and bear procedural obligations of the parties, except for the right to change the grounds or subject matter, increase or decrease the size of the claims asserted, or to waive them.

If a third party who does not file an independent claim against the subject of the dispute acknowledges the claim that the plaintiff's rights were violated as a result of his actions or omissions, the court has the right to make a decision to impose the obligation on a third party. In similar cases, a settlement agreement or mediation agreement between the plaintiff and an independent claimant and a third party who does not file a claim is allowed.

If the third party who does not make independent claims on the subject matter of the dispute has entered the case after the beginning of the trial, the case shall be heard from the beginning.

The prosecutor may participate in cases only in instances provided by law and for the purpose of protecting the interests of the state protected by law, in matters related to land relations, state property, compensation for damage caused to the state, and recoveries from the state budget, as well as in cases initiated based on the prosecutor's statement of claim (application). The prosecutor may not participate on their own initiative in the hearing of a case initiated upon the application of other persons.

The prosecutor may file an application with the court to protect the interests of the state.

If a citizen, due to health condition, age, or other reasons, is unable to independently defend their rights, freedoms, and lawful interests in court, the prosecutor has the right to apply to the court to protect the violated rights, freedoms, and lawful interests of such citizen.

Statements of claim (applications) to inter-district, district, or city civil courts shall be submitted by prosecutors of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions, the city of Tashkent, or equivalent prosecutors, or their deputies. Statements of claim (applications) to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional courts, or the Tashkent City Court shall be submitted by the respective prosecutors of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the regions, or the city of Tashkent, or by their deputies.

The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan or their deputies shall have the right to submit statements of claim (applications) to any civil court of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The applicant prosecutor enjoys all the procedural rights of the plaintiff and assumes all procedural obligations, except for the right to enter into a settlement agreement or mediation agreement and the obligation to pay court costs.

The prosecutor shall have the right to waive the asserted claim whether in whole or in part; provide the court with explanations on the claims he/she has made to protect the rights and interests of other persons; express his/her opinion on the merits of the case, as well as on certain issues arising during the proceedings; and to protest the judicial act.

The prosecutor shall not be entitled to change the ground or subject matter of the claims asserted by him/her; assert additional claims; increase or decrease the amount of claims; unless consent is given by the plaintiff.

The refusal of the claimant of the claim, which was brought in defense of his rights by the prosecutor, entails leaving the statement of claim (application) without consideration, if the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of third parties are not affected.

Prosecutor's waiver to file a suit (claim) asserted to protect another person's interests shall not deprive that person of the right to demand considering of the case on its merits.

In cases prescribed by law, state administration bodies, organizations and individuals shall have the right to apply to the court for protection of the rights, freedoms, and legally protected interests of other persons.

State administration bodies may be brought before a court to participate in court proceedings or take part in the proceedings on their own initiative in order to give an opinion on the case with a view to exercise the duties assigned to them and to protect the rights, freedoms and legally protected interests of citizens, society and the State.

Participants of the trial specified in Article 52 of this Code shall enjoy the procedural rights provided for in Article 40 of this Code, as well as shall have the right to support in full or in part the claims asserted to protect the rights, freedoms and legally protected interests of another person, waive them, and give explanations about the claims declared by them. Waiver of the claim filed with the court by the said bodies, organizations and citizens to protect the rights and legally protected interests of another person shall not deprive that person of the right to demand consideration of the case on the merits.

The refusal of the claimant (applicant) from the statement of claim (statement), which was presented in defense of his rights by a state body, organization and other person, entails leaving the statement of claim (statement) without consideration, if the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of third parties are not affected.

Witnesses, experts, specialists, interpreters, custodians of physical, written, and digital evidence, as well as enforcement proceeding bailiffs and custodians, are persons who assist in the administration of justice.

The assistant (senior assistant) of the judge shall act as the court session secretary.

Any person who has knowledge of any circumstances relevant to the case may be a witness.

The following persons may not be called in and interrogated as witnesses:

on cases that became known to him in connection with the performance of the duties of a representative, defense counsel, lawyer or mediator — representatives of civil, economic, administrative cases or defense counsel in criminal cases, lawyers, mediators in cases of administrative offenses;

persons incapable of correctly perceiving facts or giving accurate testimony about them due to physical defects or mental disorders.

A person summoned as a witness shall be required to appear in court and testify truthfully.

For failure to appear on the summons for reasons recognized by court invalid, as well as for evading testifying, the witness may be fined in accordance with the procedure established by Article 146 of this Code.

The imposition of a fine shall not release the witness from the obligation to appear and testify.

A witness shall be liable under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan for intentionally false statements.

An individual with special knowledge in science, technology, art, or craft necessary to give an opinion may be appointed as an expert.

An expert of a state forensic expert institution, an expert of a non-state forensic expert organization, an employee of another enterprise, institution, organization or other individual can act as an expert.

Persons recognized incapable or partially capable in accordance with the established procedure, as well as persons with an outstanding or unexpunged conviction for intentional crimes may not be engaged as experts.

Expert: shall have the right to examine case materials related to the subject of the forensic expertise, take notes or make copies of necessary information; participate in on-site inspections and file motions for the submission of additional materials and examination objects required for conducting the expertise; participate in the examination of evidence related to the subject of the forensic expertise during the court hearing and, with the courtʼs permission, pose questions to the parties and witnesses; inspect physical, written, and digital evidence and documents; in their opinion, express views not only on the questions posed to them but also on other issues related to the subject of the forensic expertise and relevant to the case; make statements to be recorded in the court hearing transcript regarding the misinterpretation of their opinion or testimony by the parties or witnesses; if the expert does not know or sufficiently understand the language of the proceedings, provide their opinion and testimony in their native language and use the services of an interpreter in such cases; appeal, in the manner prescribed by law, against court decisions or judgeʼs actions (inaction) that violate their rights and freedoms; claim reimbursement of expenses incurred in conducting the forensic expertise.

If the expert is convinced that the questions raised cannot be resolved on the basis of his/her special knowledge, or if the objects for examination or materials presented to him/her are unsuitable or insufficient to give an opinion and cannot be replenished, or if the state of science and forensic practice do not allow him/her to answer the questions raised, he or she shall prepare a reasonable report certifying the impossibility of giving an opinion and send it to the court which appointed the expert examination.

The expert shall be obliged to provide the following: In the presence of the grounds provided for by Article 22 of this Code, immediately recuse himself/herself; conduct a comprehensive and complete examination of the objects submitted to him/her for examination and give a reasoned and objective written opinion on the questions put to him/her; appear in court for personal participation in the court session; give testimony on the examination conducted by him/her and answer additional questions to explain own opinion made; not disclose the information which became known to him/her in connection with the production of the examination; ensure the safety of the examination objects and case materials submitted; observe order during the trial.

For unreasoned waiver of providing an opinion, as well as failure to appear on the summons of the court for reasons recognized by court invalid, the expert shall be fined in the manner prescribed by Article 146 of this Code.

The imposition of a fine shall not release the expert from the obligation to appear and provide an opinion.

An expert shall be liable under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan for providing an intentionally false opinion.

An adult person who is not interested in the outcome of a case and has special knowledge and skills in science, technology, art or craft may be engaged by the court as a specialist to assist in the collection, examination and evaluation of evidence by providing advice (explanations) and assistance in the use of scientific and technical means.

Involvement of a specialist shall be indicated in the ruling on preparation of the case for court proceedings, and in the course of the court session — in the court record.

The demand of the court to summon a specialist shall be mandatory for the head of the organization where the specialist works.

A person summoned as a specialist shall have the right to the following: Know the purpose of the summon; waive participation in the proceedings if he/she lacks the relevant special knowledge and skills; with the court's permission, ask questions to participants of the proceedings; draw the attention of the participants of the procedural action to the circumstances related to his/her actions in providing assistance in the collection, examination and evaluation of evidence, the use of scientific and technical means, preparation of materials for the commissioning of examination; become acquainted with the record of the proceedings, in which he/she took part, as well as in the relevant part of the court record and make statements and comments, subject to recording in the minutes, concerning the completeness and correctness of recording the course and results of the actions performed with his/her participation; receive compensation for expenses incurred by him/her in connection with his/her participation in the proceedings.

The person appointed by a specialist shall be obliged for the following: Appear on court summons; participate in the proceedings and in court trial using special knowledge, skills and scientific and technical means; give explanations about the actions performed by him/her. A specialist's advice on all issues shall be presented to the court in writing and the explanations given by the specialist in the course of the court proceedings shall be recorded in the hearing record.

For failure to appear on the summons for reasons recognized by court invalid, as well as for unreasoned waiver of giving advice (explanations), the specialist may be fined in accordance with the procedure established by Article 146 of this Code.

The imposition of a fine shall not release the specialist from the obligation to appear and give an advice (explanation).

An interpreter shall be a person proficient in the languages which are necessary for translation, appointed by the court in cases provided for by this Code. Other participants in court proceedings may not take on the duties of an interpreter.

The interpreter shall have the right to the following: Ask questions to the court session participants to clarify the translation; waive participation in the court proceedings if he/she does not have the relevant knowledge for the translation; familiarize himself/herself with the record of the court session; submit objections concerning the correctness of entering the translation into the court session record.

An interpreter shall be obliged to fully and correctly perform the interpretation and observe the order during the court hearing.

For unreasoned waiver of performing interpretation, as well as failure to appear on the summons of the court for reasons recognized by court invalid, the interpreter shall be fined in the manner prescribed by Article 146 of this Code.

The imposition of a fine shall not release the interpreter from the obligation to appear and perform an interpretation.

An interpreter shall be criminally liable under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the intentionally incorrect interpretation, of which the interpreter shall be warned by the court against receipt.

Citizens may take their cases to court in person or through representatives. The citizen's personal participation in a case shall not deprive him/her of the right to have a representative on the case.

Organizations shall handle cases through their executives or representatives.

The rights and legally protected interests of incapacitated persons or those with a limited legal capacity shall be protected in court by their legal representatives (parents, adoptive parents, caregivers, custodians).

In the case, in which a citizen recognized in the established order as a missing person shall participate, the person appointed for protection and management of the property of the missing person shall act as his/her representative.

In a case in which the heir to a person who has died or has been declared dead in accordance with the established procedure shall participate, if the inheritance has not yet been accepted by anyone, a caregiver, custodian or keeper appointed to protect and manage the inherited property shall act as the heir's representative.

A legal representative shall have the right to entrust the proceedings in court to another person selected by him/her as a representative.

A legal representative of a minor under the age of fourteen or a person declared legally incapable or missing person shall perform all procedural actions in the interests of the represented person in the cases related to the rights and legally protected interests of the represented person.

A legal representative of a minor between 14 and 18 years of age or of a person declared as having limited legal capacity shall take all procedural steps in the interests of that person in the hearing of cases to the extent of the limited rights.

According to the contractual (voluntary) representation, the trustee shall instruct the representative to handle the case in court to protect his/her rights and legally protected interests.

The following persons may be contractual (voluntary) representatives:

1) Lawyers;

2) Relatives who are lineal ancestors and descendants or have lateral relationship as well as husband/wife or his/her relatives;

3) Employees of legal entities — on the cases of these legal entities;

4) Authorized representatives of non-commercial organizations — on the cases of members of these organizations;

5) Authorized representatives of non-commercial organizations which are legally granted the right to protect rights and interests of other persons;

6) One of the joined parties on behalf of other joined parties;

7) Persons admitted by the court hearing the case as representatives of natural persons.

Only lawyers may engage as the representatives in the professional activity of handling cases in court.

The court shall be obliged, upon the request of the claimant or the respondent, to take measures to ensure the participation of a lawyer providing state-funded legal assistance in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Provision of Legal Assistance at the Expense of the State.”

The court shall postpone the hearing of the case until the lawyer providing state-funded legal assistance is engaged. When such a lawyer is engaged, he or she must be given at least four hours from the moment their participation is confirmed to prepare for the case.

The powers of a representative shall be indicated in a Power of Attorney to be issued and executed in accordance with the law.

Powers of Attorney issued by citizens shall be certified by notaries or other officials entitled to execute notarial acts.

Persons authorized by the state administration bodies or an official shall act under a Power of Attorney issued under the signature of the head of the relevant body or official.

A Power of Attorney on behalf of the organization shall be issued under the signature of an executive, certified by the seal of the organization (if any).

Heads of organizations shall present to the court documents certifying their official position or authority.

The powers of a lawyer shall be approved in accordance with the procedure established by law.

The powers to handle the case in court shall provide the representative with the right to perform all the procedural actions on behalf of the represented person.

Complete or partial waiver of the representative's claims under the contract, change their basis or subject, increase or decrease the amount, recognition of the plaintiff's claims, conclusion of a conciliation agreement, mediation agreement or mediation agreement, transfer of powers to another person ( power of attorney to another person), to file a complaint against a court document, to sign applications, to submit a writ of execution for foreclosure, to receive confiscated property or money must be specified in the power of attorney issued by the principal in each case.

The following persons may not be representatives in court:

1) minors, except for the cases established by the legislation;

2) Those under guardianship and trusteeship;

(3) Judges, prosecutors, persons conducting initial inquiries, investigators, and court officials, except in cases where they act as legitimate representatives (parents, adoptive parents, caregivers or guardians) or as authorized representatives of the relevant court or prosecution, inquiry, and investigation bodies;

4) Those that are providing or were previously providing legal aid to persons whose interests are contrary to those of the represented person;

4¹) those who participated as mediators in the mediation procedure related to this dispute, except as otherwise provided by law and by mutual consent on the participation of the mediator;

(5) Those in kinship relations with the judge, prosecutor, court session secretary, expert, specialist, or an interpreter.

Evidence in a civil case shall be any factual data and other circumstances that are relevant to the correct resolution of the case and that serve as a basis for the court to determine, in accordance with the procedure established by law, the existence or absence of circumstances substantiating the claims and objections of the parties. These data are established by means of the following: explanations of the parties and third parties and their legal representatives, testimonies of witnesses, physical, written, and digital evidence, expert opinions, and specialist advice (explanations).

Data contained in anonymous letters and other information the origin of which is unknown or those obtained in violation of the law shall not be deemed evidence.

Explanations of the parties and third parties and witness testimonies may be obtained by using videoconferencing systems in line with the procedure established by Article 209 of this Code.

Each party shall be obliged to prove the circumstances to which it refers as the basis for its claims and objections.

The court shall determine the circumstances of relevance to the case and the parties to be proved and shall put them on the table even if the parties have not referred to them.

The evidence shall be presented by the parties and the other persons participating in the case. The court may invite them to present additional evidence. Where it is difficult for the parties and other persons participating in the case to present additional evidence, the court shall assist them at their request in the collection of evidence.

The court shall only consider evidence that is relevant to the case.

The court ruling on refusal of accepting the evidence shall be reasoned.

The circumstances of a case, which by law shall be supported by certain means of proof may not be supported by any other means of proof.

Circumstances recognized by the court as well known shall not be needed to be proved.

The facts established by an enforceable court decision in one civil case shall not be subjected to proof again in other civil cases in which the same persons participate.

A decision of an economic or administrative court that has entered into legal force is binding on the court considering another case on issues regarding the circumstances established by the decision of the economic or administrative court and related to the persons participating in the case.

A sentence that came into legal force in a criminal case shall be binding on the court hearing a case on the civil legal implications of the actions of a person against whom the court sentence has been passed, only with regard to whether these actions took place and whether they were committed by that person.

The circumstances confirmed by a notary in the commission of a notarial act shall not require proof if the authenticity of the notarized document has not been refuted in accordance with the procedure established by Articles 235 and 236 of this Code, or a material breach of the notarial act procedure has not been established.

Persons who have reasons to believe that it will subsequently become impossible or difficult for them to produce the evidence required to them may request the court to secure the evidence before or after filing the claim.

Persons involved in the case have the right to take measures to provide evidence in a notarized manner in the pre-trial process.

Securing of evidence required for the conduct of cases in foreign bodies shall be conducted by notaries in the manner prescribed by law.

The claim to secure evidence shall be filed with the court in the area of operation of which the procedural actions to secure the evidence are to be carried out.

The claim shall set out the evidence to be secured; the circumstances for the confirmation of which that evidence is necessary; the reasons that prompted the claimant to apply for the securing of evidence; as well as the case for which the secured evidence is or will be necessary in the future.

Evidence shall be secured by a court in accordance with the rules on the collection and examination of evidence established by this Code. The claimant and other persons participating in the case shall be informed of the time and place of securing of evidence, but their failure to appear shall not be an obstacle to the consideration of a claim for securing of evidence. In exigent cases, as well as in cases when it is impossible to determine with whom a claimant may subsequently have a dispute, securing of evidence shall be carried out with notification of the claimant only.

In the procedure of securing evidence, the explanations of the parties and third parties shall be heard, witnesses shall be questioned, an expert examination shall be appointed, physical, written, and digital evidence shall be requested or examined, and an on-site inspection shall be conducted.

All materials collected in support of evidence shall be sent to the court hearing the case or shall be provided to the claimant.

The ruling on securing of evidence shall not be subject to appeal.

A special complaint (protest) may be filed against the ruling on refusal of securing the evidence.

The court shall evaluate the evidence proceeding from its internal conviction, based on a full, complete and impartial consideration in court of all the case circumstances in their totality and being guided by law.

Each of the evidence shall be assessed from the point of view of its relevance, admissibility and reliability, and the totality of the evidence from the point of view of its sufficiency.

Evidence shall be considered reliable if it is found to be true as a result of verification.

No evidence shall have predetermined admissibility for the court.

The court shall reflect the results of the evaluation of evidence in a decision which gives the reasons why some evidence was accepted as a means of substantiating the court's findings, other evidence was rejected by the court, and also the grounds for the reason why some evidence was preferred over others.

When evaluating the documents or other written evidence, the court shall ensure — by taking into account other evidence — that such document or other written evidence come from a body authorized to present this type of evidence, is signed by a person entitled to affix the document by signature, and contains all other integral details of this type of evidence.

When evaluating a copy of a document or other written evidence, the court shall verify whether the content of the copy of the document has changed when copying in comparison with its original; check technical method by which the copying was carried out; whether copying guarantees the identity of the copy of the document and its original; and the way in which the copy of the document was preserved.

The court may not consider proved the circumstances confirmed only by the copy of the document or other written evidence, if the original of the document is lost and not handed over to the court; when the copies of this document submitted by each of the disputing parties are not identical with each other; and it is impossible to establish the true content of the document by means of other evidence.

The explanations given by the parties, third parties and their representatives about the circumstances known to them which are relevant to the case shall be subject to verification and evaluation along with other evidence collected in relation to the case.

A party's admission of the facts on which the other party bases its claims or objections shall relieve the latter of the need for further proving those facts. If the court is in doubt, this fact shall be proved on general grounds.

Fact admission shall be recorded in the minutes of the court hearing and signed by the party that has admitted the fact. If the admission of fact is set out in a written claim, it shall be attached to the case.

The person requesting the summoning of a witness shall specify the circumstances relevant to the case the witness may confirm and shall inform the court of his/her surname, name, patronymic, place of residence, or place of work or study.

Witnesses who permanently reside outside the location of the court hearing the case and are unable, for valid reasons, to appear in court, may be interrogated by the court at the initiative of the court, at the request of the parties or other persons participating in the case, or by own initiative of the witness himself/herself at their place of residence upon instructions from the court hearing the case, or held by videoconferencing. If these witnesses appear before the court hearing the case, they shall be questioned by the court.

Written evidence shall be acts, contracts, reference notes, business correspondence, other documents and materials in the form of digital, graphic record that contain information on the circumstances relevant to the case, including those obtained by fax, electronic or other communication, or other way allowing to establish the credibility of the document.

Written evidence presented to the court, prepared either in whole or in part in a foreign language, shall be accompanied by duly certified translations thereof.

A document obtained in a foreign state shall be recognized as written evidence in court if it is legalized in the manner prescribed by law.

A document obtained in a foreign State shall be recognized in court as written evidence without legalizing it in cases stipulated by an international treaty to which Uzbekistan is party.

The person presenting written evidence shall be required to indicate what circumstances relevant to the case may be established by the evidence and, in the case of discovery requests shall indicate this evidence and specify the grounds on which the person believes that the written evidence is in possession of that person.

Written evidence demanded by the court from state bodies, organizations or citizens shall be sent directly to the court.

The court may also issue a request for the right to receive the written evidence to a person requesting the discovery of a written proof for submission to the court.

Citizens and organizations that do not participate in the case and do not have the opportunity to present written evidence required by the court, shall be obliged to notify the court by stating the reason.

If a person from whom the discovery of the written evidence is demanded by court, has no possibility to present it or to present it within the deadline established by court, he/she shall be obliged to notify the court thereof with the indication of the reasons within five days from the date of receipt of court inquiry.

In case of failure to notify, as well as in the event of invalidity of the reasons for waiving presentation of written evidence, the court shall impose a fine on the liable officials of the organizations, as well as on citizens in line with the procedure established by Article 146 of this Code.

The imposition of the fine shall not release the respective officials and citizens from the obligation to submit the written evidence required by the court.

As a rule, the written evidence shall be presented in the original or a duly certified copy. If a copy of a document is presented, the court shall be entitled, if necessary, request that the original be presented. If only part of the document is relevant to the case at hand, a certified extract from it may be presented.

If it is difficult to present written evidence to the court due to its multiplicity or if only part of it is of relevance to the case, the court may require duly certified extracts or conduct inspection and examination of the evidence at the place of their storage.

The original document available in the case may be returned at the request of the person who presented it after the court decision enters into legal force, with keeping in the case of a copy certified by the judge.

Before the entry of the judicial act into legal force, the written evidence may be returned to persons who presented it, if the court finds it possible. Simultaneously with the request, the specified persons shall submit a duly certified copy of the original document or request the court to certify the accuracy of the copy remaining in the case.

Electronic data refers to information that is created, processed, and stored using electronic devices and information systems, as well as information technologies.

Parties to the case, witnesses, and other persons may submit electronic data by copying such data from one electronic medium to another in which the data exists.

The court shall accept the submitted electronic data with the participation of a specialist and shall examine the original electronic medium containing such data.

Electronic media containing data not relevant to the case shall be immediately returned to their owners.

Digital evidence refers to electronic data that contains information relevant to the case, including electronic files, audio and video recordings, information stored on the Internet, and other electronic data.

Copies of digital evidence may be made, provided that their integrity and exact equivalence are maintained.

The right to make a copy of digital evidence is subject to the availability of the original from which the copy is made, except for digital evidence certified by a notary. Parties to the case, witnesses, and other persons may submit printed copies of digital evidence; however, such paper copies shall not be considered written evidence unless the digital evidence is notary-certified.

Audio and video recordings created during court proceedings and attached to procedural records in electronic form are also considered digital evidence.

Copies of digital evidence shall be stored together with the case materials.

Citizens, heads of enterprises, institutions, organizations, and other officials must submit electronic data in their possession, along with the electronic media, upon the lawful request of the court, if such data is necessary for conducting judicial actions.

If the person from whom digital evidence is requested cannot submit it within the time specified by the court, they must inform the court of the reasons.

A person voluntarily submitting digital evidence must indicate what relevant facts the evidence helps establish.

A party to the case may request the court to obtain digital evidence held by another person, indicating the basis for such belief and its location.

The court may authorize the applicant to retrieve and submit the digital evidence to the court.

Citizens and officials not participating in the case but unable to provide the requested evidence must inform the court with reasons.

Digital evidence required by the court from state bodies, organizations, or individuals must be sent directly to the court.

If the court is not notified or the evidence is not provided without valid reason, the court may impose a fine under Article 146 of this Code.

Fines do not release officials or individuals from the obligation to submit digital evidence required by the court.

The court must directly examine and inspect digital evidence with the participation of a specialist.

If digital evidence cannot be submitted to the court or delivery is difficult, the court may order its examination and inspection at the place of storage.

Physical evidence (exhibits) shall be considered items that may serve as a means of determining the circumstances relevant to the resolution of the merits of a case.

The person presenting or requesting the discovery of physical evidence shall be obliged to specify the circumstances relevant to the case that can be established by this evidence.

A person who applies to the court for discovery of an item as evidence from persons participating or not participating in the case shall describe the item and indicate the grounds on which they believe the item is in the possession of the person.

The physical evidence demanded by the court from citizens and organizations shall be forwarded directly to the court.

The court may issue a request to a person requesting the discovery of a physical evidence for the right to receive it for submission to the court.

Citizens and organizations that do not participate in the case and do not have the opportunity to present the requested item or present it within the terms set by the court shall be obliged to notify the court thereof by stating the reason.

If a person from whom the discovery of the physical evidence is demanded by court, has no possibility to present it or to present it within the deadline established by court, he/she shall be obliged to notify the court thereof specifying the validity of reasons within five days from the date of receipt of court inquiry.

In the event of failure to notify, as well as if the court's request for the submission of the item is not satisfied for the reasons deemed by court invalid, the liable citizens and officials of the organizations may be fined in line with the procedure established by Article 146 of this Code.

The imposition of the fine shall not release the respective citizens and officials from the obligation to submit the item demanded by the court.

The court may conduct inspection and examination of the evidence at the place of its location in case of impossibility or difficulty of delivery to the court, as well as in case if the physical evidence is perishable.

Perishable products and other items shall be immediately inspected by the court with notification of persons participating in the case. After inspection, these items shall be returned to the persons from whom they were obtained or transferred to other persons who may use them for their intended purpose. In the latter event, items of the same kind and quality or their value at prices at the time of return shall subsequently be returned to the owner of the items.

If necessary, persons contributing to the administration of justice may be summoned to participate in the inspection and examination of evidence.

The physical evidence shall be admitted to the case by the court ruling and kept in the case or handed over to the court's exhibits storage chamber as per a special inventory list.

Items that cannot be delivered to the court shall be kept in the place where they are located. They shall be described in detail, sealed and, if necessary, filmed on photo or videotape.

The court and keeper shall take measures to keep the physical evidence intact.

The costs for storage of the physical evidence shall be apportioned between the parties in line with the rules established by Article 138 of this Code.

Upon entry of the judicial act into legal force, the physical evidence shall be returned to the persons from whom they were received or transferred to the persons for whom the court recognized the right to these items.

In certain cases, after inspection and examination by the court, the physical evidence may be returned to the persons from whom it was obtained until the end of the case, if the latter apply for it and if meeting such motion is possible without prejudice to the proceedings and execution of the decision.

Objects that according to the law may not be in the possession of citizens shall be transferred to the relevant organizations.

In order to clarify issues arising in the course of the proceedings, which require special knowledge in the field of science, technology, art or craft, the court may, at the request of the persons participating in the case or on its own initiative, appoint an expert examination.

Expert examination shall be carried out in court or out of court, if it is necessary by the nature of the examination or due to impossibility or difficulty to bring the subject of examination to the court.

The court ruling on the commissioning of the expert examination shall indicate the issues on which the expert opinion is required and the person instructed to carry out the expert examination.

When appointing experts, the court shall take into account the opinion of persons participating in the case.

Should a party evade participation in the expert examination, fail to provide the experts with necessary materials and documents for the examination, as well as in other cases, if due to the circumstances of the case and without participation of this party the expert examination cannot be conducted, the court — depending on which party evades the expert examination and what significance it has for it — shall have the right to recognize the fact for clarification of which the expert examination was commissioned, as established or disproved.

A lawyer, with the consent of the client, can send a lawyerʼs request to state forensic expert institutions and non-state forensic expert organizations to conduct an examination on a contractual basis.

A supplementary expert examination shall be assigned to fill existing gaps in the opinion of an expert (commission of experts) and shall be performed by the same or another expert (commission of experts).

A repeated expert examination shall be assigned when the opinion of the expert (commission of experts) is unjustified, or its correctness is questioned, or the evidence underlying it is considered unreliable, or the procedural rules of the expert examination have been substantially violated.

When commissioning a repeated expert examination, the expert (commission of experts) may be questioned about the scientific validity of previously applied methods of examination.

The court ruling on the commissioning of the repeated expert examination shall contain the reasons for disagreement of the court that commissioned the repeated expert examination with the conclusion of the first (previous) expert examination.

The repeated expert examination shall be assigned to another expert (commission of experts). The expert (commission of experts) that carried out the first (previous) expert examination may be present in the course of the repeated expert examination and provide explanations, but he/she shall not participate in the examination and drafting of the opinion.

Persons participating in the case shall have the right to present to the court the questions to be explained by experts.

The final set of questions requiring an expert opinion shall be determined by the court. The court shall be obliged to give reasons for rejection of the proposed questions.

After conducting the examinations, the expert (commission of experts) shall draw up an opinion, which shall be certified by the signature of the expert or of each expert member of the commission of experts, respectively.

The court shall have the right to invite the expert to provide an oral explanation of his/her opinion. The oral explanation shall be recorded in the minutes of the court hearing, read out to the expert and signed by him/her.

The opinion of the expert (commission of experts) shall reflect the following: date and place of production of the expert examination; grounds for production of the expert examination; information about the court that commissioned the expert examination; information about the expert (surname, name, patronymic, education, specialty, work experience, academic degree, academic title, occupied position) and the enterprise, institution, or organization that is entrusted with the production of the examination; warning of the expert on criminal liability for intentionally giving a false opinion; questions posed to the expert; objects of examinations and case materials presented to the expert; information on persons who were present during the expert examination; content and results of the examinations with an indication of the methods used and by whom the examinations were conducted if the expert examination was conducted by the expert commission; evaluation of the research results and reasonable answers to the questions raised; and circumstances that are relevant to the case and established upon expert's initiative.

Materials illustrating the conclusion and its results are attached to this conclusion and serve as its integral part. Materials documenting the progress, conditions and results of the study are stored in a state forensic expert institution or a non-state forensic expert organization or other enterprise, institution, organization within the time limits established by law. At the request of the court that appointed the examination, they are submitted for inclusion in the case.

The opinion shall contain a justification for waiver of answering some of the questions raised, if an insufficiency of the objects submitted for examination, materials or special knowledge of the expert was revealed in the course of the examination.

Upon completion of the examination, the opinion, examination objects, and case materials shall be sent to the court that commissioned the expert examination.

The disagreement of the court with the opinion of the expert (commission of experts) shall be reasoned in the decision on the case or in the ruling.

Expert examination may be conducted by several experts of one (commission expert examination) or different forensic specialties (comprehensive expert examination).

The examination by the commission of experts determined by the court that appointed the examination, or the head of the state forensic expert institution, non-governmental forensic expert organization or other enterprise, institution, organization organizing the production of this examination.

The commission of experts, which is assigned to conduct the expert examination shall agree on the objectives, sequence, and scope of the forthcoming examinations, based on the necessity of addressing the questions, set before it.

As a part of the commission of experts, entrusted with expert examination, each expert shall at his/her own discretion and independently conduct the examinations, evaluate the results obtained by him/her personally and other members of the commission, and formulate findings on the questions raised within the limits of his/her special knowledge.

Conduction of the examination fully or partially by persons not included in the commission of experts shall not be allowed.

In an examination by expert commission, each of the experts shall conduct full examination followed by a joint analysis of the results obtained. Once the experts reach a common opinion, they shall draw up and sign a joint opinion or an act of impossibility to give an opinion.

In case of disagreement between the experts, each of them shall give a separate opinion on all or certain issues that caused disagreement.

A comprehensive expert examination shall be commissioned in cases where it is possible to determine the circumstances relevant to the case only by conducting several examinations applying different branches of knowledge.

In the course of comprehensive expert examination, each of the experts shall conduct examinations within his/her competence. The conclusion of the comprehensive expert examination shall indicate examinations conducted and extent to which each of the experts has conducted it; facts he/she has personally established; and findings he/she has come to. Each of the experts shall sign the part of the conclusion (final opinion) that contains these examinations and shall be responsible for it.

The general finding(s) shall be made by the experts who are competent in evaluating the results obtained and formulating this (these) finding(s). If the final conclusion of the commission of experts or its part is based on the facts established by one of the experts (by individual experts), this shall be indicated in the conclusion.

In case of disagreement between the experts, each of them shall give a separate opinion on all or certain issues that caused disagreement.

If the production of a comprehensive expert examination is entrusted to a state forensic expert institution or a non-state forensic expert organization, then the organization of this examination is entrusted to its head.

A specialist shall provide the court with advice (explanation) either orally or in writing.

The written consultation of a specialist shall be announced, researched in a court session, and attached to the case. The oral consultation shall be recorded directly in the record of the court hearing (procedural action).

In order to clarify and supplement the consultation, the expert may be asked questions.

The court hearing the case, if it is necessary to collect evidence in another district or city, shall instruct the relevant court to perform certain procedural actions.

A letter of request shall be supported by a ruling, setting forth the merit of the case under consideration; the circumstances to be clarified; the evidence to be collected by the court executing the request. This ruling shall be binding for the court to which it is addressed and shall be executed within fifteen days.

The letter of request may be sent as an electronic document through an information system.

The execution of the letter of request shall be performed in the court session according to the rules established by this Code. The persons participating in the case shall be notified of the time and venue of the session, however, their failure to appear shall not be an obstacle to the execution of the request.

Factual information may be collected under the procedure of judicial assignment through the examination and verification of the explanations of the parties and third persons or their legal representatives, the testimonies of witnesses, as well as the inspection and verification of physical, written, and digital evidence.

Minutes and materials collected in the course of execution of the letter of request shall be immediately sent to the court hearing the case.

If the persons participating in the case or witnesses who gave explanations or testimony to the court hearing the case appear in the court hearing the case, they shall give explanations or testimony under a standard procedure.

The court (judge) may take measures to secure the suit at the request of persons participating in the case or on its own initiative. Securing of a suit shall be allowed, if failure to take measures on security may complicate or make impossible the execution of the judicial act.

Securing of a suit shall be allowed at any stage of the court proceedings.

When considering the cases related to property recovery in favor of the State, the court (judge) shall be obliged to take measures to secure a suit.

The statement on securing a suit shall indicate the grounds and the need to take measures to secure the suit.

Measures to secure a suit, considered in the arbitration court may be taken at the choice of the party to the arbitration trial by the court on civil cases at the location of the arbitration court or the location or residence of the defendant, or the location of the property of the defendant. The claim for securing of suit shall be accompanied by the evidence of the filing of the suit with the court of arbitration.

Consideration by the civil court of a claim for securing a suit being considered by the court of arbitration and the rendering of a ruling by it on securing a suit shall be carried out in the manner prescribed by this Chapter.

The measures to secure the suit may be as follows:

1) Imposition of arrest on property or money belonging to the defendant and held by him/her or another person;

2) Prohibiting the defendant from performing certain actions;

3) Prohibiting other persons from transferring the property to the defendant or executing other obligations in relation to it;

4) Suspension of the sale of property in the event if a claim is asserted to release it from arrest;

5) termination of collection on the writ of execution if the debtor is in dispute in court and if such a dispute is allowed by law;

6) Imposing the obligation on the defendant to perform certain actions to prevent the damage and deterioration of the disputed property;

7) Transfer of the disputed property for storage to a third party (keeper).

Where appropriate, the court (judge) may take other measures to secure the suit.

Securing of a suit by imposing an arrest on salary, income, pension and scholarship, except for claims for alimony recovery, for compensation of damage caused by injury or other health damage, as well as death of the breadwinner, or for compensation of damage caused by theft of other's property shall not be allowed.

The measures to secure the suit shall be proportionate to the claim asserted by plaintiff.

Where appropriate, the court may apply several types of securing of suits, so that their total amount does not exceed the price of the suit.

A claim for securing of a suit shall be resolved by a court (judge) on the day the claim is received without notifying the defendant and other persons participating in the case.

A ruling shall be made as a result of consideration of the claim on securing of suit.

Having heard the explanations of the persons participating in the case, the court may replace one type of securing of suit with another.

Replacement of the type of securing of suit may be made by the court hearing the case at the request of the person participating in the case.

The issue of replacement of one type of securing of suit by another shall be resolved in the court session with notification of the persons participating in the case. However, the non-appearance of these persons shall not be an obstacle for consideration of the issue on replacement of securing of suit.

When securing a suit for recovery of a sum of money, the defendant shall have the right to deposit the amount claimed by the plaintiff in the court deposit account instead of the provisional measures applied.

A ruling shall be issued as a result of consideration of the issue of replacing one type of securing of suit with another.

The ruling on securing the suit shall be executed immediately in the procedure established for the execution of judicial acts.

In case of violation of the prohibitions specified in items 2, 3, 6, and 7 of part one of Article 106 of this Code, the liable persons shall be fined in accordance with the procedure established by Article 146 of this Code. The plaintiff shall have the right to demand on general grounds the compensation from these persons for the losses caused by the failure to comply with the court ruling on securing the suit.

Measures to secure a suit may be cancelled by the court hearing the case.

The issue of cancellation of securing of suit shall be resolved in the court session with notification of the persons participating in the case. However, the non-appearance of these persons shall not be an obstacle for consideration of the issue on cancellation of securing of suit.

The decision of the court of arbitration on dismissal of the claims under the suit shall be the ground for the court to cancel the measures on securing of suit.

A ruling shall be made as a result of consideration of the issue of cancellation of securing of suit. A copy of the ruling shall be sent to the persons participating in the case not later than the day following the day of its issue.

In case if the suit is dismissed, the measures of securing the suit shall be maintained until the decision comes into legal force. However, the court may render a ruling to cancel the measures to secure the suit alongside with the decision or after its adoption.

In case of satisfaction of the suit, the suit security measures shall remain in force until the decision is actually executed.

A special complaint (protest) may be filed against the ruling on securing the suit.

The term for filing a private complaint (protest) on the ruling on securing a suit shall be calculated from the date of serving or sending a copy of the ruling.

Filing a private complaint (protest) against the court ruling on securing a suit shall not suspend the execution of this ruling.

Filing a private complaint (protest) against a court ruling on cancellation of the suit security or on replacing one type of suit security with another shall suspend the execution of this ruling.

While securing a suit, the court (judge) may demand the plaintiff to secure possible losses for the defendant.

Upon entry into legal force of the decision on the dismissal of the suit, the defendant shall have the right to demand from the plaintiff compensation for the losses caused to him/her as a result of the measures taken upon motion of the plaintiff to secure the suit.

The court shall suspend the case proceedings in the following events:

1) Death of a citizen, if the disputed legal relationship allows a succession, or reorganization of a legal entity, which was a party in the case;

2) Loss of legal capacity by a citizen (party);

3) A defending citizen is serving in an active unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan or when the corresponding petition is filed by a plaintiff citizen who is serving in an active unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

4) Impossibility to hear this case before a decision is taken on another case or issue being considered by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, civil court, criminal court, administrative court, or economic court, as well as the case on which an investigation is underway;

5) Filing of a procedural request by a party to the competent authority of a foreign State to cancel or suspend an execution of a decision of a foreign court or a foreign arbitration court (arbitration);

6) Entry into an agreement to conduct the mediation procedure.

The court shall be entitled to suspend the proceedings on the case at the procedural request of persons participating in the case or on its own initiative in the following events:

1) The party is in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan on active fixed-term military service or these persons are involved to perform any State duty;

2) The party is in a healthcare institution and any of them have a disease that prevents them from appearing in court, confirmed by a certificate from the healthcare institution;

3) Defendant is on the wanted list in cases stipulated by Article 165 of this Code;

4) The party is on a business trip exceeding the period of hearing of the case, except for the cases when representatives of organizations participate in the case;

5) An expert examination is commissioned by the court;

6) Sending a letter of request in accordance with Articles 103 and 363 of this Code.

Case proceedings shall be suspended in the events stipulated by the following:

1) Items one and two of Article 116 of this Code — until the legal successor or legal representative of an incapacitated person is either involved or appointed to the case;

2) Item 3 of Article 116 of this Code — until termination of stay of the party in the active unit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

3) Item 4 of Article 116 of this Code — until entry into legal force of the decision or sentence of the court, or until issuance of the ruling on the case being heard administratively, or until completion of investigation;

4) Item 5 of Article 116 of this Code, — until the resolution by the competent authority of a foreign State of a procedural request to cancel or suspend an execution of a decision of a foreign court or a foreign arbitration court (arbitration);

4¹) Item 6 of Article 116 of this Code — until the completion of the mediation procedure, but not exceeding sixty days;

(5) Item one of Article 117 of this Code — respectively, until termination of stay of the party in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan on active fixed-term military service or until completion by these persons of execution of their State duties;

6) Item two of Article 117 of this Code — until the party is discharged from the healthcare institution or the party has recovered from a disease which was preventing it from appearing in court;

7) Item 3 of Article 117 of this Code — until the detection of the defendant;

8) Item 4 of Article 117 of this Code — until the party returns;

9) Item 5 of Article 117 of this Code — until the completion of the expert examination;

10) Item 6 of Article 117 of this Code — until the completion of actions on execution of the letter of request.

The court shall issue a ruling on the suspension of case proceedings.

A special complaint (protest) may be filed against the ruling on suspension of proceedings on the case.

In case of suspension of proceedings on the case, the period of time established by this Code or appointed by the court shall be suspended.

Prior to the resumption of proceedings on the case, the court shall have no right to perform any procedural actions, except for actions aimed at securing of suit and evidence.

Proceedings on the case shall be resumed upon the application of the persons participating in the case or upon the court's initiative after the circumstances caused its suspension have disappeared.

When resuming proceedings, the court shall summon the persons participating in the case on general grounds.

The court shall render a ruling on the resumption of proceedings on the case.

The court shall leave the claim undecided, if:

1) the claim is filed by a legally incapable person;

2) the claim on behalf of the interested person is filed by a person who has no authority to handle the case;

3) there is a case in the proceedings of a civil court, an economic court or an arbitration court on a dispute between the same parties, concerning the same subject matter and on the same grounds;

4) an arbitration agreement has been concluded between the parties to transfer this dispute to an arbitration court for resolution;

5) the parties, who did not request for case proceedings in their absence did not appear without valid reasons upon secondary summon, and the court does not deem it possible to resolve the case based on materials available in the case;

6) the plaintiff, who did not request for case trial in his/her absence failed to appear in the court upon secondary summon, and the defendant does not demand the case proceedings on the merits;

7) a dispute arose during the special proceedings about the law falling within the jurisdiction of the court;

8) the husband has filed a suit for dissolution of marriage without the wife's consent during her pregnancy or within a year after the birth of the child;

9) the plaintiff has filed an application on leaving the claim undecided;

9¹) the plaintiff, in whose interests a claim has been filed by a prosecutor, a state body, an organization or another person, has refused the claim and the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of third parties are not affected.;

10) the plaintiff has not complied with the pretrial procedure of dispute settlement with the defendant, when it is stipulated by law or contract;

10¹) the plaintiff has not complied with the procedure of dispute settlement with the conduction of the mediation procedure with the defendant, when it is stipulated by law for this category of disputes or the contract;

10²) the parties, who applied for the mediation procedure did not appear at the court session without valid reasons upon expiration of the term of mediation procedure;

10³) a mediation agreement has been concluded between the parties;

11) an application for recognition of property (item) as ownerless has been filed prior to the term established by law or in violation of the procedure provided by law for detection and considering of property (item) as ownerless.

The court shall issue a ruling to leave the application without consideration. In the ruling, the court is obliged to indicate how to eliminate the circumstances listed in Items 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 10¹ and 11 of Article 122 of this Code that hinder the consideration of the case.

While leaving the claim undecided on the grounds stipulated by Items 1, 3, 4 and 10³ of Article 122 of this Code, the court shall specify in the ruling the return of State duty and the cancellation of measures taken to secure the suit.

A special complaint (protest) may be filed against the court's ruling to leave the claim undecided on the grounds stipulated by Items 5, 6, 7 and 10² of Article 122 of this Code.

After elimination of the circumstances that served as the ground for leaving the claim undecided, the interested person shall be entitled to apply to the court again under a standard procedure.

The court shall terminate the proceedings on the case, if:

1) the case is not within the jurisdiction of the civil court, economic court or administrative court.

2) there is a decision or ruling of a civil court, an economic court, an administrative court, or a competent foreign court that has entered into legal force on the acceptance of the plaintiff's waiver of the asserted claims or on approval of the parties' amicable agreement, made on a dispute between the same parties, on the same subject, and on the same grounds;

3) the plaintiff waived the asserted claims and the waiver was accepted by the court;

4) the parties concluded an amicable agreement and it was approved by the court;

5) there is a decision of the arbitration court made on a dispute between the same parties, on the same subject, and on the same grounds, except for the cases when the court dismissed the issuance of a writ of execution for enforcement of a decision of an arbitration court;

6) after the death of a citizen who was one of the parties in the case, the disputed legal relationship does not allow legal succession;

7) the organization acting as a party in the case is liquidated.

Proceedings on the case shall be terminated by a court ruling. If the proceedings are terminated due to the fact that the case is not within the jurisdiction of the court, the court shall be obliged to indicate a body to which the claimant should apply.

A private complaint (or protest) may be filed against the court ruling on the termination of proceedings.

In the event of termination of proceedings on the case, secondary recourse to a court on a dispute between the same parties, on the same subject, and on the same grounds shall not be allowed.

Court costs shall consist of the State duty and costs related to the consideration of the case.

The grounds and procedure for payment of state duty, its exemption from payment, and the procedure for refund of state duty shall be established by law.

The value of suit shall be determined for suits as follows:

1) on the recovery of money — as per amount to be recovered;

2) on reclamation of property — by the value of the property being reclaimed;

3) on suits consisting of several separate claims — by the total amount of all claims;

4) on alimony recovery — the aggregate amount of payments for one year;

5) on urgent payments and issuances — by the aggregate amount of all payments or issuances, but not more than for three years;

6) on termless or lifetime payments and issuances — by the aggregate amount of payments or issuances for three years;

7) on decrease or increase of payments or issuances — by the sum by which payments or issuances decrease or increase, but not more than for one year;

8) on termination of payments and issuances — by the aggregate amount of all remaining payments or issuances, but not more than for one year;

9) on early termination of the property lease — by the aggregate amount of payments for the property use during the remaining term of the contract, but not more than for three years;

10) on the ownership right for the buildings owned by citizens on the right of private ownership — by the market value of the building, but not lower than the cadastral value or — in the absence thereof — not lower than the value under the mandatory insurance, while for buildings owned by organizations — not lower than the actual valuation of the building.

The value of the suit shall be specified by the plaintiff. In case of apparent discrepancy of the specified value with the actual cost of the reclaimed property the value of the suit shall be determined by the judge.

In the event of difficulty in determining the value of the suit at the moment of filing it, the amount of the State duty shall be preliminary determined by the judge with subsequent recovery of the underpaid or return of the overpaid State duty in accordance with the value of the suit established by the court in the course of resolving the case.

In case of plaintiff's decrease of his/her claims, waiver of his/her asserted claims, or termination of the case by amicable agreement of the parties, the State duty paid shall not be returned.

If the claims are increased, the deficit sum shall be paid in line with the increased value of the suit.

The following shall apply to the costs related to the hearing of the case:

1) Amounts payable to witnesses, experts, specialists, and interpreters;

2) Costs related to the on-site inspection;

3) Costs related to the search of defendant in cases stipulated by Article 165 of this Code;

3¹) Postal costs related to the issuance of court notices and judicial acts;

4) Costs related to holding a court hearing via videoconferencing;

5) Other necessary costs accepted by the court.

The amount of postage is determined by the court, but this amount should not exceed one-tenth of the basic calculation amount and should be credited to the court's deposit account.

The sum of costs related to the holding of a court hearing by videoconferencing shall be determined by the court and charged from the persons participating in the case, based on the results of consideration of the case in accordance with this Code.

Deferral of the payment of the State duty shall be granted in cases stipulated by the legislation.

Proceeding from the property status of the parties, the court may defer or permit to one or both parties the payment in installments of court costs charged to the State revenue, as well as reduce the amount of these costs.

The amounts due to experts, specialists, witnesses, and interpreters shall be paid by the court upon the performance of their duties.

Experts and specialists shall be remunerated for the work they performed on behalf of the court, if this work is not within the scope of their official duties.

The employees specified in part one of this Article shall be retained the average salary at the place of work in line with the procedure established by legislation for the period of their absence in connection with their appearance in court.

Witnesses who are not in an employment relationship shall be compensated for being abstracted from regular employment on the basis of the actual time spent and the established basic calculation value.

The procedure for payment and the amounts due shall be established by legislation.

The amounts payable to witnesses, experts, specialists, and interpreters, or those required to cover the costs of on-site inspection shall be paid in advance to the court's deposit account by the party submitted the respective petition. If the said petition is claimed by both parties or if witnesses, experts, specialists, interpreters are summoned or the on-site inspection is carried out upon court's initiative, the required amounts shall be paid by the parties equally. If the expert examination is commissioned upon court's initiative, the amount payable may be paid to the expert by the court from the deposit account. This amount shall be charged from the persons participating in the case, in accordance with this Code, through the transfer to the deposit account of the court when the judicial act is issued.

The court shall award a party in favor of which the judgment was made the expenses from other party for the payment for the representative's aid within reasonable limits.

If in accordance with the established procedure the aid of a lawyer was provided free of charge to the party in favor of which the judgment was made, the said amount shall be charged from the other party in favor of the lawyer's bureau (bar, firm).

The party which has asserted in bad faith an unfounded claim or dispute against the claim or has systematically resisted on a correct and timely consideration and resolution of the case shall be obligated by the court to pay compensation in favor of the other party for the actual loss of time. The amount of compensation shall be determined by the court within reasonable limits.

To the party in favor of which the decision was rendered, the court shall award from the other party all court costs incurred in the case, even if this party was exempted from paying court costs to the State revenue.

If the asserted claims are satisfied partially, the sums specified in this Article shall be awarded to the plaintiff in proportion to the amount of the claims satisfied by the court, and to the defendant — in proportion to the part of the asserted claims in which the plaintiff's claims were dismissed.

If the defendant voluntarily meets the claims of the plaintiff after the latter applied to the court, the court costs shall be assigned to the defendant.

If the plaintiff has validly claimed a penalty, but its amount has been reduced by the court, the court costs shall be assigned to the defendant proceeding from a sum of the penalty that would have been subject to recovery without taking into account its reduction.

In case of dismissal either in full or in part of the claims, presented by the State bodies and other authorities exempted from State duty, as well as the organizations in the interests of legal entities and citizens, the State duty shall be charged from the persons, in the interests of whom the claim is filed, in proportion to the part of the asserted claims in which the claims were dismissed.

If the higher instance court changes the existing decision or makes a new decision without transferring the case for a new trial, it shall change the apportionment of court costs accordingly.

The provisions set forth in this Article shall also apply to the state duty paid by the parties when filing appellate, cassation, and supervisory complaints.

If the plaintiff waives the asserted claims, the costs incurred by the him/her shall not be reimbursed by defendant.

If the parties have not provided for the procedure for apportionment of court costs in the amicable agreement, the court shall resolve this issue when approving the amicable agreement with respect to Articles 136, 138 and 141 of this Code.

When the asserted claims of the public prosecutor, as well as State administration bodies, organizations, and citizens who have applied in court for protection of the rights and legally protected interests of other persons are dismissed either in full or in part, the court costs incurred by the defendant shall be reimbursed to the defendant from the budget in full or in proportion to the part of the asserted claims in which the plaintiff's claims were dismissed.

In case of dismissal of claims against the defendant, sued by the court in the manner prescribed by Article 46 of this Code, the court costs incurred by him/her shall be reimbursed from the budget.

If the claim to release a property from arrest is met, the costs incurred by the plaintiff shall be reimbursed to the plaintiff from the budget funds.

The costs incurred by the court in connection with the consideration of the case, as well as the State duty, from the payment of which the plaintiff was released shall be charged from the defendant to the State revenue in proportion to the met part of the asserted claims.

In case of dismissal of the asserted claims, the costs incurred by the court in connection with the consideration of the case shall be charged from the plaintiff to the State revenue.

If the asserted claims are met partially and the defendant is exempted from paying the court costs, the costs incurred by the court in connection with the consideration of the case shall be credited to the State revenue from the plaintiff not exempted from the paying the court costs, in proportion to the dismissed part of the claims.

If both parties are exempted from paying the court costs, the expenses incurred by the court in connection with the consideration of the case shall be attributed to the State.

If the defendant was put in the wanted list in accordance with the procedure stipulated by Article 165 of this Code, the court shall recover from him/her the costs of the search to the State revenue.

A special complaint (protest) may be filed against court rulings on issues related to court costs.

The following shall relate to measures of procedural coercion

1) Attachment, in cases stipulated by this Code;

2) Caution;

3) Expelling from the courtroom;

4) Court fine.

Application of measures of procedural coercion to the person shall not exempt him/her from executing relevant obligations established by this Code or the court.

If a duly notified person — whose participation in the court proceedings is obligatory in line with Article 313 of this Code or his/her appearance is recognized by the court as obligatory — did not appear in court in cases stipulated by this Code without valid reasons or did not notify of the reasons for the failure to appear, the court may render a ruling on the application of the attachment measure. The execution of this ruling shall be the responsibility of the territorial internal affairs body. The costs for the attachment shall be recovered on the basis of the relevant application made by this territorial internal affairs body in the manner prescribed by this Code.

Attachment measure may not be applied to minors, pregnant women, and persons unable to appear in court due to illness, age or other valid reasons.

The court ruling on the attachment of a person — in addition to the information stipulated by Article 272 of this Code — shall specify the date, time and place to which the person is to be forcibly brought, as well as a territorial internal affairs body which is tasked with execution of attachment.

The court ruling on the attachment shall be subject to immediate enforcement and transferred to the territorial internal affairs body at the place of proceedings or place of residence, place of stay (location), place of work, service, or education of the person subject to attachment.

Appealing (protesting) of the court ruling on the attachment shall not suspend its execution.

The presiding judge shall caution on behalf of the court a person who violates the order during the proceedings.

If a party or a third party violates the order in the court session, the court shall expel the offender from the courtroom for the whole duration of the court session or for a part thereof. In the latter case, the presiding judge shall make the person newly admitted to the courtroom aware of the procedural actions taken in his/her absence. If both parties and third parties violate the order of the court session, the court may postpone the trial of the case.

In case of repeated violation of order, the persons participating in the case, witnesses, experts, specialists, and interpreters may be expelled from the courtroom by the court's ruling, while the citizens present during the proceedings may be expelled from the courtroom by order of the presiding judge. In the event of a mass violation of order by citizens, the court may postpone the trial of the case.

A caution shall be given if prosecutor or lawyer disobey the orders of the presiding judge. In the event of further disobeying the orders of the presiding judge by the persons specified, the court may rule on postponing the hearing on the case if it seems not possible to replace the person in question without prejudice to the case. At the same time, the court shall render a special ruling, which shall be sent respectively to a higher public prosecutor or to the Qualification Commission under the territorial branch of the Chamber of Lawyers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Court fines shall be imposed by the court in cases stipulated by this Code.

A ruling shall be rendered on the imposition of a court fine, a copy of which shall be immediately sent to the person on whom the fine is imposed.

The amount of the court fine imposed by the court shall not exceed five times the amount of the basic calculation.

Court fines shall be recovered to the State revenue.

Court fines imposed by the court on officials shall be recovered from their personal funds.

Within five days after receiving a copy of the court's ruling, the person on whom the fine is imposed may request the court that imposed the fine to release from a fine or reduce its amount. This application shall be considered in the court session with notifying the person on whom the fine is imposed. However, the non-appearance of this person shall not be an obstacle for consideration of the application.

A special complaint (protest) may be filed against the ruling to impose a court fine, to dismiss the remission of a fine, or to reduce its amount.

An administrative action may be instituted by the court against a person who has violated the order in a court session or has shown other contempt of court.

A contempt of court is manifested in malicious evasion from appearing in court of a witness, plaintiff, defendant, or other persons participating in the case, or in disobedience of the specified persons and other citizens to the order of the presiding judge, or in violation of order during the court session.

The judge (the bench) shall notify the offender of the establishment of the fact of a contempt of court directly in the court session, where this offense was committed, and immediately without court's leaving for a separate room (consultation room). This fact shall be recorded in the record of the court session. No protocol on an administrative offence is drawn up.

The person in respect of whom the fact of contempt of court is established, as well as other persons participating in the case, shall have the right to give their explanations.

The ruling on the administrative offence shall be drawn up by the presiding judge after the end of the court session on the case in a separate room (consultation room) and signed by the judge (the bench).

In case if direct contempt of court has been shown and the offender left the courtroom; in case if consequential contempt has been shown; as well as in case if an evasion from appearing in the court session has been established, the protocol on the offense shall be drawn up by the judge assistant (senior assistant) or other court worker upon oral order of the President Judge or the judge presiding in the court session, which shall be specified in the protocol on the offense.

The protocol on an offence in cases stipulated by part 6 of this Article shall be considered by the same court in line with the procedure established by the Administrative Liability Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Procedural actions shall be carried out within the time limits established by law.

In cases where procedural time limits are not established by law, they shall be set by court.

The time limits for performing procedural actions shall be determined by a calendar date, an indication of an event that must necessarily occur, or a period of time. In the latter case, the action may be performed during the entire period.

The procedural time limits shall be calculated in years, months, and days. Running of the time period shall begin on the day following the calendar date or occurrence of the event that defines its beginning.

The time limits, calculated in years shall expire in the corresponding month and date of the last year of the time limit.

The time limits, calculated in months shall expire in the corresponding month and date of the last month of the time limit.

If the expiration of the time limit calculated in months falls on a month that has no corresponding date, then the time limit shall expire on the last day of that month. In cases where the last day of this time limit falls on a non-working day, the next first working day following it shall be considered as the day of expiration of the time limit.

The procedural action, for the performance of which the time limit is set may be performed by up to 24:00 on the last day of the time limit.

If a procedural action is to be executed in court, the time limit shall be considered to have expired in those hours when — according to the established rules — the work ends in court.

The deadline shall not be considered missed, if the application, complaint, documents, or sums have been submitted to the communication organization, sent electronically through an information system, or transferred to the relevant authority, or to the person authorized to accept them, up to 24:00 of the last day of the time limit.

The right to perform procedural actions shall be lost upon the expiration of the time limit established by law or set by court. Expiration of procedural time limits in this event shall not release these persons from the performance of their duties.

Claims, complaints, and documents submitted after the expiration of procedural time limits shall be returned to the persons by whom they were submitted if there is no motion to restore missed time limits or if the latter was dismissed.

All pending procedural time limits shall be suspended with the suspension of the proceedings on the case. Suspension of the time limits shall begin from the time of occurrence of the circumstances that served as the ground for the suspension of the proceedings. The procedural time limits shall continue from the date of resumption of proceedings on the case.

The deadlines set by the court (judge) may be extended by the court (judge).

A motion to restore a missed procedural time limit shall be filed with the court, in which the procedural action was to be performed or in which the document should have been submitted, and shall be considered in a court session with notification of the persons participating in the case. However, the non-appearance of these persons shall not be an obstacle for consideration of the application.

Simultaneously with submission of the motion on restoration of the procedural time limits, the action or the document in respect of which the time limit is missed shall respectively be made or submitted.

A ruling shall be made on extension or restoration of the missed procedural time limits, or dismissal of their extension.

A special complaint (protest) may be filed against the court's ruling on dismissal of extension or restoration of the missed procedural time limit.

Persons participating in the case, as well as experts, specialists, interpreters, and witnesses shall be summoned to court and notified of certain procedural actions of the court by summons, and where necessary — by registered letters, telegrams, telephoned telegrams, and other means of communication that ensure the recording of the fact of notification.