Uzbekistan: RSF urges withdrawal of proposed law threatening photojournalism

The bill, adoptedby the Lower House on 7 October 2025, must still be approved by the Upper House and signed by the president. It would amend the Civil Code, the Labour Code and the Code of Administrative Liability to include penalties-fines and the confiscation of equipment-for any photography and filming deemed "clandestine."

First presentedin March, the bill includes certain exceptions, notably for filming during public events or gatherings, but does not specify how those exceptions would apply, opening the door to arbitrary interpretations by the authorities. In practice, these provisions risk crippling the dissemination of images taken in public spaces, meaning that information of clear public interest - concerning corruption, for example, or abuses of power by state representatives - would go unreported. The fact that the final version of the text adopted has not been made public raises serious concerns about its actual scope. Both the date for the second reading in the Upper House and the date for promulgation are unknown.