The proposed changes involve amendments to the Criminal Code and the Code of Offenses. Developers of the initiative argue that the adjustments are necessary to revise penalties in light of inflation, the rising cost of goods, and shifting economic conditions.
Key Changes to Liability Thresholds
The legislation suggests significant increases in the monetary limits for certain offenses. Specifically, the threshold for significant economic smuggling is proposed to be raised from 500 thousand soms to 2 million soms.
Furthermore, changes are proposed for tax evasion. The threshold for evading customs payments is suggested to increase from 100 thousand soms to 1.5 million soms.
Impact on Violations
By raising these monetary thresholds, a portion of violations that currently carry criminal liability are proposed to be reclassified into administrative offenses. However, the law does not eliminate responsibility entirely; penalties for illegal actions will still be stipulated in accordance with the Code of Offenses.
Context of the Changes
The justification for these revisions notes that the monetary thresholds for economic smuggling have not been revised since 2018, while the initial indicators for customs payment evasion have been in place since 2007. Over this period, the cost of goods, currency exchange rates, and the volume of foreign trade have changed, leading developers to feel that current limits do not always match the economic severity of the violations.
