Another case of animal cruelty has occurred in Tashkent, captured in a video that circulated on social media showing two citizens running over dogs with a car. According to the capital's Main Directorate of Internal Affairs (MDIA), the incident took place around 23:00 on April 5 in a market area in the Uchtepa district.

Following a swift investigation, it was determined that the individuals who killed the dogs were two guards: 29-year-old T. M. and 30-year-old M. D. An administrative protocol was drawn up against them under Article 111 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility (Cruelty to Animals), which currently entails a fine ranging from 3 to 5 times the base calculation amount (BCA), approximately 1.2 to 2.06 million Uzbek soums.

The collected documents have been forwarded to the district court for criminal proceedings, indicating potential additional penalties for the accused. This case has drawn attention from activists and public figures amid a backdrop of increasing acts of cruelty towards animals in recent months, with some launching online petitions demanding harsher punishments.

The Ecological Party announced it is preparing a draft law to ensure a "systemic and comprehensive approach" in regulating this area. Additionally, under a law signed by the President on March 25, new amendments concerning cruelty to animals will take effect from June 28, raising the fine to 7-10 times the BCA.

According to the new draft law, if acts of cruelty are repeated within a year after a fine is imposed, committed in the presence of a minor, or result in the death of animals, the penalty is intensified to a fine of 15-25 times the BCA or administrative detention for up to 15 days. These changes represent a significant step in animal protection, aimed at enhancing societal responsibility.

Source: www.gazeta.uz