Uzbekistan drafts law to tackle animal cruelty amid public pressure

Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has begun drafting a new bill on the protection of animals from cruelty, following a petition backed by tens of thousands of citizens.

The parliamentary Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection said the initiative was triggered by a collective appeal that gathered widespread public support, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

A working group is currently consolidating proposals submitted by citizens. Among the key suggestions is a call to reclassify animal cruelty from an administrative offence into a criminal one. Animal welfare advocates argue that existing penalties, including short-term administrative arrest of up to 15 days, are insufficient as a deterrent.

The signature campaign, initiated by activist Yaroslava Finogeyeva, mobilised hundreds of volunteers. Organisers say it collected more than 16,000 online signatures and over 6,000 offline within several weeks.

The campaign was driven in part by a series of high-profile incidents involving the killing of cats and the mass poisoning of stray dogs, which sparked significant public backlash.

Finogeyeva also argued that a lack of accountability among pet owners is contributing to the growing stray animal population and subsequent culling. She added that cruelty towards animals may also indicate broader risks to society.

Parliamentary officials confirmed that the proposals will be taken into account during the drafting of the legislation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev