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Uzbekistan is preparing to overhaul its legal framework for cybercrime and establish a dedicated national cybersecurity strategy, according to a draft “Roadmap” for implementing the country’s development strategy in 2022, the first year of a five-year programme running to 2026.
The document, published in early January, identifies the revision of criminal liability for cybercrime as a discrete task, though it does not specify which offences are under review or what sentencing changes are being considered. Separately, the government intends to develop a Cybersecurity Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan covering the period 2023 to 2026.
Scope of the planned measures
The roadmap sets out a cluster of priorities centred on protecting what it describes as important information infrastructure. These include securing the national “.uz” internet domain zone, safeguarding e-government systems, the energy sector and the digital economy. The document does not elaborate on specific vulnerabilities or recent incidents that prompted the review.
On the technical side, authorities plan to continue expanding the infrastructure of the Unified Cybersecurity Network and to improve the system for monitoring cyberattacks and threats across the country’s information space. Both measures are framed as continuations of existing programmes rather than entirely new initiatives.
Innovation park and youth training
The roadmap also assigns a role to the IT Park of Innovations in Cybernetics, calling for an acceleration of its activities, though no timeline or performance benchmarks are specified. Regional digital technology training centres are to be used to deliver cybersecurity instruction to young people, and annual national competitions among students are planned to develop skills in identifying cyberattacks.
The combination of legislative revision, strategic planning, infrastructure investment and skills development reflects a broad-based approach, though the roadmap as described is a statement of intent rather than enacted policy. Implementation details, funding allocations and legislative drafts have yet to be made public.