РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ ТРАНСГРАНИЧНЫХ ВОД ПЕРВЫМ ВОДНЫМ КОДЕКСОМ РЕСПУБЛИКИ УЗБЕКИСТАН

Abstract

The article analyzes the first Water Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, adopted on July 30, 2025, which marks a significant milestone in establishing a modern legal framework for regulating transboundary water resources amidst the high water interdependence in Central Asia. Unlike the previous Law “On Water and Water Use” of 1993, the new Code introduces 34 terms, including the regionally unique concept of “transboundary impact,” emphasizing serious adverse environmental consequences. The Code establishes mechanisms for international cooperation, including obligations to prevent and minimize transboundary impacts and to peacefully resolve interstate disputes. A key feature is the provision on the need to develop mutually acceptable mechanisms for the joint management of transboundary waters in the region, which is absent in the water codes of neighboring states (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan). The article highlights that the Code not only modernizes the national water use system but also significantly contributes to regional water policy, promoting environmental sustainability and balanced cooperation in Central Asia.