PRESS SERVICE

On accreditation of the foreign mass media representatives in Uzbekistan

The legal status and professional activities of representatives of foreign mass media, accredited in Uzbekistan is regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On mass media" "On protection of journalist’s professional activity" "On principles and guarantees of freedom of information", the present Key rules as well as provisions of the international agreements, where the Republic of Uzbekistan is a signatory.

Accreditation of the foreign mass media representatives and establishment of the correspondent offices in Uzbekistan are provided in accordance to the Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan №33 February, 24, 2006 "On approving the Basic procedures regulating professional activities of the foreign mass media correspondents o­n the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan"

Opening the correspondent offices of foreign mass media is carried out o­n the basis of the decision of the Ministry of foreign affairs upon submitting the following documents:

- letter of application from head of the interested foreign mass media addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in order to open correspondent offices in the Republic of Uzbekistan;

- basic information about interested mass media;

- the opinion of press-service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the expediency of opening correspondent offices in Uzbekistan. First two of listed documents are transferred through diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad or represented directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Accreditation of the representatives of foreign mass media as a permanent foreign correspondent is carried out o­n the basis of the decision of the Ministry of foreign affairs upon submitting the following documents:

- letter of application from the head of the interested foreign mass media addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan concerning on the accreditation of this media correspondent in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The following documents are applied to the letter:

- basic information about interested mass media;

- biographic data (CV) and four photo in needed form of the correspondent being accredited.

Letter of application is transferred through the diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad or it is represented directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The decision about accreditation of permanent foreign correspondent shall be adopted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan within two months from the date of admitted application. After the arrival to the Republic of Uzbekistan the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues to the accredited correspondent the certificate of accreditation as a permanent foreign correspondent valid up to 2 years.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan carries out the decision on accreditation of the temporary foreign correspondent, not later than two weeks after the representation of the written reference by the head of the foreign mass media addressed to Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. After the positive decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues to the accredited correspondent the certificate of accreditation as a temporary foreign correspondent valid up to 6 months.

Entry visas are given to foreign correspondents by the diplomatic representatives or consular institution of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad in consent with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan for accrediting them as permanent or temporary foreign correspondents.

Multiple-entry visas are issued to permanent accredited foreign correspondents for the term of accreditation without collection of consular and other gathering on the basis of the reference of the interested foreign mass media. The diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan issue multiple-entry visas abroad by the instruction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan Multiple-entry visas are issued directly by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan can deny in accreditation of the foreign correspondent on the basis of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan or according to present Rules. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan notifies the foreign correspondent with the reasons of such decision.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in case of infringement of the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan «On mass media», «On protection of the journalist’s professional work», «On the principles and guarantees of the information freedom», resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers  «On the order of entrance, departure, stay and transit travel of foreign citizens and persons without citizenship in the Republic of Uzbekistan» from November 21, 1996 No 408, the present rules or other legislation acts in sphere of mass-media can warn or stop their accreditation ahead of schedule, or cancel the entry visa, as well as take administrative measures of influence up to the extent of deportation from the republic of Uzbekistan.

Accredited in Uzbekistan foreign correspondents, are forbidden to call for violent change of the existing constitutional system, infringement on territorial integrity of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to propagandize war and violence, cruelty, as well as national, racial and religious hostility, and also to intervene in internal affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, humiliate honor and indignity of Uzbekistan citizens, intervene in their private life and fulfillment of other actions, which stipulate proceedings according to the law. Foreign correspondents and members of their families, guilty for violating the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, bear the responsibility according to the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Professional work of foreign correspondents in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who are not accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is forbidden and bears the responsibility according to the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan as foreign correspondents and technical personnel of the correspondent offices of foreign mass media, are registered in the state tax bodies of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the basis of the tax laws in accordance with the established procedure and terms by the notification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, declare the incomes and give tax bodies bank documents and the data, concerning the calculation and taxes payment and income tax collections, earned by the journalistic activity. The mentioned persons and their employers are beard to responsibility according to the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in case of tax laws infringement.

Professional work of the citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which are not accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan as representatives of the foreign mass media is not allowed and bears the responsibility according to the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The accredited foreign correspondents have the right for free movement in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan except for the places closed for visiting or demanding special sanction. While traveling in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan Foreign correspondent must have his certificate of accreditation.

The accredited correspondent centers and foreign correspondents can employ the citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan through the Office of diplomatic service as technical employees and the attendants.

Technical employees and attendants of the accredited foreign correspondent are denied to engage in journalistic activity.