In Uzbekistan, a new law titled "On State Secrets" has been enacted, which establishes the legal and organizational foundations for handling confidential information of state significance. The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan announced the adoption of this document, which will come into effect in three months, specifically in the spring of 2025.
The law regulates all aspects related to the use and protection of state secrets and any activities associated with them. The document outlines the procedure for classifying information as state secrets, as well as the process for declassifying it.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan determines the unified state policy in the area of state secrets. The State Security Service of Uzbekistan has been designated as the specially authorized state body responsible for oversight and supervision in this domain.
The inclusion of information in the list of state secrets, as well as its declassification, will be carried out based on an approved list. Heads of organizations dealing with state secrets bear personal responsibility for decisions made regarding the classification of information.
The law establishes three levels of secrecy for information classified as state secrets, along with corresponding classification labels for the carriers of this information: "Of Special Importance" (first level), "Top Secret" (second level), and "Secret" (third level).
The maximum duration for classifying information as a state secret is limited to 30 years for information of state significance and 10 years for official secrets. This time limit aims to ensure a balance between the necessity of protecting sensitive information and the public's right to access information.
The new law "On State Secrets" represents a significant step towards improving the information protection system in Uzbekistan. It is designed to ensure reliable protection of state secrets and prevent their disclosure.