Legal Regulation of Security Activities in Uzbekistan

Publication date: 21.09.2025

Security activities are a key element in ensuring public safety, protecting the life, health, and property of citizens, as well as the uninterrupted functioning of state and economic facilities. The adoption of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Security Activities” (Law No. ZRU-778 of 15.06.2022) was an important step in systematizing and modernizing the legal framework in this area.

The Law regulates relations in the field of security activities and defines the legal, organizational, and institutional mechanisms of its implementation. The priority of international treaties over national acts ensures the compliance of national legislation with international standards.

The Law contains a systematic definition of key terms:

departmental and non-departmental guard security;
departmental and non-departmental militarized security;
access control and on-site regime;
engineering and technical means of security;
secured facility.

This classification made it possible to clearly delineate the functions of various security actors.

Goals and Objectives of Security Activities

The main tasks include:

protection of life and health of citizens;
safeguarding property of individuals and legal entities;
maintaining public order;
ensuring special security regimes at facilities.

State Regulation

The Law assigns key functions to:

Cabinet of Ministers — approval of the list of security facilities, licensing procedures for security-technical services, control over the use of service weapons and special equipment;
National Guard — implementation of state policy, protection of state and private facilities, control of technical equipment, international cooperation.

Subjects of Security Activities

The Law identifies the following categories of actors:

security divisions of state bodies;
departmental and non-departmental security units;
the National Guard, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs (on a contractual basis);
prohibition on the activities of foreign security organizations, except for certain cases (e.g., ensuring the visits of high-ranking guests).

Rights and Obligations of Security Actors

Rights include:

use of modern technical equipment;
demand compliance with legal regimes;
carry out inspections of objects;
apply physical force, special means, and weapons in cases provided by law.

Obligations include:

ensuring reliable protection of facilities;
preventing illegal actions;
safeguarding public order;
observing confidentiality and state secrecy.

Personnel Requirements

Applicants for positions in security units must meet several conditions: absence of criminal record, education requirements, no mental or drug-related illnesses, and citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan. A system of training, retraining, and professional development of employees is provided.

Use of Force, Special Means, and Weapons

The Law strictly regulates the procedure and conditions for the use of force and special means. Particular attention is given to the principle of proportionality and the need to minimize harm. There is a mandatory requirement to notify the prosecutor of each case of firearm use.

The adoption of Law No. ZRU-778 indicates the formation of a comprehensive security system based on the principles of legality, protection of citizens’ rights, and national security. The Law strengthens the role of the National Guard, creating prerequisites for the integration of security functions into a unified system of state control.

The Law “On Security Activities” is a fundamental act defining the architecture of the security system in the country. Its provisions ensure a balance between the interests of the state, society, and individuals, contribute to the professionalization of the security service, and enhance the level of public safety.

Comparative Analysis of Rights and Obligations of Security Actors

Subject

Rights

Obligations

All security actors

• Use modern technical means and technologies

• Demand compliance with laws and regimes

• Obtain information from authorities

• Inspect secured facilities

• Ensure reliable protection of facilities

• Prevent unlawful actions

• Organize and control checkpoints and access regimes

• Maintain order and prevent offenses

• Protect state and other secrets

Military personnel, employees, and workers of security units

• Demand compliance with regimes and order

• Detain violators and seize prohibited items

• Check storage conditions and integrity of security means

• Carry and use weapons and special means in prescribed cases

• Protect life and health of citizens, property

• Provide first aid

• Cooperate with citizens and authorities

• Maintain discipline and service order

• Safeguard weapons, ammunition, and protective equipment

• Not disclose service information

National Guard

• Set tariffs for services

• Approve contract templates and uniforms

• Control the activities of security units

• Issue permits for security-technical services

• Engage in international cooperation

• Implement state security policy

• Ensure unified technical policy

• Organize training and education of personnel

• Inspect facilities every two years

Cabinet of Ministers

• Determine the list of security facilities

• Regulate licensing of security services

• Establish inspection rules and list of medical restrictions

• Approve regulations on departmental security

• Organize the legal and organizational framework for security

• Control the use of weapons and special means

• Approve the list of agencies entitled to establish security units

Departmental and non-departmental security units

• Wear uniforms, use service weapons (for militarized security)

• Have departmental uniform (for guard security)

• Demand elimination of violations at facilities

• Protect assigned facilities

• Ensure order and regime on site

• Participate in emergency response

• Take part in detaining violators

Conditions for Use of Physical Force, Special Means, and Weapons

Type of Impact	Authorized Personnel	Grounds and Conditions	Restrictions
Physical force (combat techniques, coercive actions)	Workers and employees of departmental and non-departmental security	• Prevent encroachments on secured facilities • Detain offenders • Suppress resistance to lawful demands • When use of special means or weapons is allowed	Prohibited against pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and minors (except in cases of armed resistance or attack)
Special means (batons, handcuffs, dogs, vehicle-stopping devices)	Workers and employees of departmental and non-departmental security	• Repelling attacks • Detaining armed or resistant persons • Escorting and guarding detainees, preventing escape • Stopping vehicles that disobey lawful demands	Prior warning required; excessive harm is prohibited
Service weapons (firearms, ammunition)	Workers and employees of militarized security; military personnel and staff of state bodies’ security units	• Defense against life-threatening attacks • Repelling armed attacks on facilities • Preventing attempts to seize weapons • Detaining armed persons when no other means are possible	Must match the situation and threat level; mandatory reporting to prosecutor and police of all cases

General Rules:

Prior warning required (except when impossible or threatening to life);
First aid must be provided to victims;
Immediate reporting to superiors and prosecutor;
Exceeding authority entails liability;
Lawful actions exempt from liability.

Requirements for Candidates and Training of Security Personnel

Category	Conditions and Requirements	Restrictions (Not Admitted)	Training and Education
Applicants	• Citizenship of Uzbekistan • General or specialized secondary education • Compliance with health requirements	• Persons with unexpunged criminal record for intentional crimes • Those serving criminal punishment • Repeated administrative offenders • Persons with mental or drug addiction disorders • Legally incapacitated persons • Foreign citizens • Persons refusing to comply with restrictions	—
Training and retraining	All staff must undergo training courses	• Persons who have not completed programs in professional, physical, or combat training are not admitted	• Military/security staff — programs approved by their agencies • Security staff with firearm rights — trained under National Guard or Cabinet-approved institutions • Staff without firearm rights — trained in their divisions or voluntarily at National Guard courses
Professional, physical, and combat training	• Conducted under special programs • Training time included in working hours	—	• Annual mandatory medical examination • Security duties prohibited without training completion