Prostitution Prostitution laws in UzbekistanOʻzbekiston
In Uzbekistan the person who sells sex is penalised. Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of three to seven times the base calculation amount (BCA), and a repeat within a year after a penalty carries seven to ten BCA or up to 15 days' administrative arrest (Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, sanctions as amended in 2019). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Pimping "for mercenary or other base motives" and organising or keeping a brothel are crimes under Article 131 of the Criminal Code. Brothel keeping carries a fine, community work, restriction of liberty or up to three years' imprisonment, rising to five to eight years where a minor is involved or an organised group is responsible. Trafficking for the purpose of drawing a person into prostitution carries five to ten years.
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence under Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility (fines, and up to 15 days' administrative arrest for a repeat). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Pimping and organising or keeping a brothel are crimes under Article 131 of the Criminal Code.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of three to seven BCA. A repeat within a year after an administrative penalty is punishable by seven to ten BCA or administrative arrest of up to 15 days.[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Code of Administrative Responsibility or the Criminal Code. Sex with a person under 16 in exchange for material goods or other benefit is a crime (Article 128 of the Criminal Code). A 2026 commentary notes that the Criminal Code has no general offence of child sexual exploitation.[1][2][3] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Organising or keeping a brothel is punishable by a fine of 50 to 75 BCA, 360 to 480 hours of compulsory community work, one to three years' restriction of liberty or up to three years' imprisonment. A group acting by prior agreement faces three to five years, and the involvement of a minor, a repeat offence or an organised group five to eight years.[2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Pimping (қўшмачилик) for mercenary or other base motives is punishable by a fine of 25 to 50 BCA, up to 360 hours of community work or up to three years' corrective labour, with heavier penalties for groups, repeat offenders and cases involving minors. Trafficking in persons for the purpose of drawing them into prostitution carries five to ten years.[2] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the two codes. A third party who publicises a sex worker's services for gain risks liability for pimping under Article 131, and the sex worker for engaging in prostitution under Article 190.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of three to seven BCA. A repeat within a year after an administrative penalty is punishable by seven to ten BCA or administrative arrest of up to 15 days.[1]
Article 190 is headed "Фоҳишалик билан шуғулланиш" (engaging in prostitution). The current sanctions were set by Law ЎРҚ-586 of 3 December 2019.
Note. The text was read in Uzbek on lex.uz and translated here. The BCA (базавий ҳисоблаш миқдори) is revised periodically.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Code of Administrative Responsibility or the Criminal Code. Sex with a person under 16 in exchange for material goods or other benefit is a crime (Article 128 of the Criminal Code). A 2026 commentary notes that the Criminal Code has no general offence of child sexual exploitation.[1][2][3]
Confidence: medium. Absence of a buyer offence was checked by searching both codes for the prostitution terms; Article 128 is cited from the Gazeta.uz commentary, not read in the code.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Organising or keeping a brothel is punishable by a fine of 50 to 75 BCA, 360 to 480 hours of compulsory community work, one to three years' restriction of liberty or up to three years' imprisonment. A group acting by prior agreement faces three to five years, and the involvement of a minor, a repeat offence or an organised group five to eight years.[2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Pimping (қўшмачилик) for mercenary or other base motives is punishable by a fine of 25 to 50 BCA, up to 360 hours of community work or up to three years' corrective labour, with heavier penalties for groups, repeat offenders and cases involving minors. Trafficking in persons for the purpose of drawing them into prostitution carries five to ten years.[2]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found in the two codes. A third party who publicises a sex worker's services for gain risks liability for pimping under Article 131, and the sex worker for engaging in prostitution under Article 190.[1][2]
Confidence: low. The Law on Advertising and the rules on online content were not checked. Applying Article 131 to advertising is an inference from its wording, not a reported case.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Ўзбекистон Республикасининг Маъмурий жавобгарлик тўғрисидаги кодекси Code of Administrative Responsibility (1994, as amended) 190-модда | Article 190 makes engaging in prostitution an administrative offence.[1] | |
| Ўзбекистон Республикасининг Жиноят кодекси Criminal Code (1994, as amended) 131-модда · 135-модда | Pimping and brothel keeping (Art. 131); trafficking, including for prostitution (Art. 135).[2] |
Timeline
Sources
- Ўзбекистон Республикасининг Маъмурий жавобгарлик тўғрисидаги кодекси (Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan). LexUZ, National Database of Legislation (Ministry of Justice), 22 September 1994. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Ўзбекистон Республикасининг Жиноят кодекси (Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan). LexUZ, National Database of Legislation (Ministry of Justice), 22 September 1994. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- «Продаётся детство». В Узбекистане до сих пор нет наказания за сексуальную эксплуатацию детей ("Childhood for sale": Uzbekistan still has no penalty for the sexual exploitation of children). Gazeta.uz, 11 May 2026. news · accessed 30 October 2026