The national referendum in Uzbekistan - legislative provisions and practice

Abstract

This paper presents the institution of national referendums in modern Uzbekistan, which in 1991 became an independent and sovereign state in the wake ofthe collapse of the Soviet Union. It discusses the legislative regulations of referendums stipulated in the Constitution of Uzbekistan of 1992 and the 1992 Law. In the analysis ofthe latter, particular attention is given to such elements as the right to vote, the principle of transparency, the entities authorised to take the initiative to hold a referendum, the authorities responsible for the preparation and holding of a referendum and the criteria for its validity. There were only four referenda held in Uzbekistan in the period of concern: two in 1991, and one in 1995 and 2002 each. It is concluded that national referendums in Uzbekistan play an essential role, providing the only fully democratic form of citizens expressing their preferences in this authoritarian state.