Consular protection. What to do if you are detained abroad

First of all, you need to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies that detained you.

If you begin to resist, swear or otherwise go to confrontation, this will aggravate your situation if you are really guilty of committing a crime, and will give law enforcement agencies a reason to accuse you of resisting the police, and complicate the process of proceedings if you are detained by mistake.

After your arrest, foreign law enforcement agencies are required to inform the consular office, diplomatic mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan about the fact of detention and its reason.

You have the right to demand from law enforcement agencies to meet with a consular officer. Then the consulate:

• Will establish contact with your relatives
• Will monitor your compliance with the Criminal Procedure Code of the host country

You and your relatives should be aware that in the event of a criminal case against you abroad, the consulate:

• Cannot interfere with the investigation
• Cannot change the order and content of the procedural actions provided for by the legislation of the host country
• Cannot substitute in court for any of the participants in the proceedings

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Remember (!)

Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, legal entities can always receive full protection of their rights and interests by consular institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad. A consular officer is obliged to take measures to ensure that citizens and legal entities of the Republic of Uzbekistan enjoy all the rights granted to them by international treaties to which the Republic of Uzbekistan and the host state of the consular post are parties, international customs, as well as the legislation of the host state of the consular post, if such rights do not contradict the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Article 15 of the Consular Charter of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.ZRU-517 dated January 17, 2019)

In addition, consular offices contribute to the development of friendly relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the host states and the expansion of economic, trade, scientific, technical, cultural and other ties with them (Article 1 of the Consular Charter of the Republic of Uzbekistan No.ZRU-517 dated January 17, 2019)

We wish you good travels and no problems, but we recommend that you take a printout of this document with you on your travels!

Have a nice holiday!