A/HRC/44/47/Add.3 consecutive terms of chairpersons of the qualification collegiums of judges, their deputies and members; the exclusion of the practice of nominating during the election the chairpersons of the higher qualification collegium of judges, the chairpersons of the qualification collegiums of courts in the field, the candidacies of the chairpersons of these courts. 20. With regard to paragraph 30 of the report, the Program of measures to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and the Rule of Law, strengthening public control, approved by the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 13 December 2019, provides for the development of a law aimed at strengthening responsibility for cases of interference in the resolution of court cases, including the impact of in any form to a judge in order to prevent a comprehensive, complete and objective examination of a case, issuance of an unlawful judgment, decision, determination or ruling (section 4.1). 2. Supreme Judicial Council 21. The report notes that the lack of conformity of the provisions on the composition and functions of the Council of the international standards, including the lack of safeguards against outside political pressure (para. 33 of the report), as well as the absence of strict criteria for the selection of judges (para. 34 of the report). The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Council is protected from external political interference, that a procedure be introduced for the selection of judges to guarantee the widest possible representation of the judiciary at all levels (para. 36 of the report), and that the Chairperson of the Supreme Judicial Council is elected from among its judicial members. In the light of these recommendations, and in order to ensure that national legislation is in line with international principles and standards, Uzbekistan plans to amend the current procedure of the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council, excluding the possibility of joining it representatives of law enforcement, executive and representative authorities. 22. With regard to the Special Rapporteur's recommendation that active politicians, representatives of the legislative or executive authorities and law enforcement officers should not participate in the process of selecting and appointing Council members, it should be noted that in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, seven members of the Council are approved by the President of the Republic Uzbekistan is among the representatives of civil society institutions and highly qualified specialists in the field of law. Currently, law enforcement officials are excluded from the Council. Only authoritative legal scholars, university professors and representatives of the Judges' Association are represented on a voluntary basis as members of the Council. 3. Selection and appointment of judges 23. The report notes that the Council does not play any role in the selection of the most senior judges, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and judges of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts (para. 41 of the report). In accordance with the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, “On the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, “On Courts”, the Supreme Judicial Council carries out the selection of chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and judges of the Constitutional and Supreme Court. In particular, the Supreme Judicial Council makes proposals to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on candidates for the positions of chairman, deputy chairmen and judges of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as presentations to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on candidates recommended for the positions of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the courts of the regions and the city of Tashkent, Chairman of the Military Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to Article 5 of the Law “On the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, the Constitutional Court judges are elected by the Senate on the proposal of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from among those recommended by the Supreme Judicial Council, including a representative from the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is not a part of the executive branch of government, because article 89 of the Constitution states that the President is the head of state and ensures the coordinated functioning and interaction of state bodies. 6

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