Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Uzbekistan

Commercial Litigation — Uzbek Economic Courts

Representation in commercial disputes before Uzbek economic courts — the primary forum for B2B disputes in Uzbekistan. Bond Stone handles contract disputes, debt recovery, shareholder claims, and regulatory challenges. Economic courts have exclusive competence over cases with foreign persons on property owned by the Republic of Uzbekistan, including privatisation and expropriation, and on real estate located in Uzbekistan (Economic Procedure Code, Art. 240).

TIAC — Tashkent International Arbitration Centre

The TIAC is Uzbekistan's main institutional arbitration forum. An award seated in Tashkent is enforced in Uzbekistan under Law No. ZRU-674 (Art. 51) and the Economic Procedure Code, and abroad under the New York Convention. Bond Stone advises on TIAC clause drafting, arbitrator selection, and representation in TIAC proceedings.

International Arbitration — ICC, LCIA, ISTAC

For disputes involving international counterparties, Bond Stone advises on institutional arbitration under ICC, LCIA, and ISTAC rules — including seat selection, governing law, and enforcement strategy. Bond Stone's ISTAC clause and forum strategy work for Kazakhstan–Turkey disputes is directly applicable to Uzbekistan–Turkey trade disputes.

Cross-border Enforcement

Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is a party to the New York Convention (accession deposited 7 February 1996, in force 7 May 1996) and has judicial cooperation treaties with CIS states and a number of other jurisdictions. Without a treaty, a foreign judgment faces refusal (Economic Procedure Code, Arts. 248 and 255). Bond Stone advises on enforceability assessment, recognition procedure before Uzbek economic courts, and asset tracing and execution strategy.

Debt Recovery in Uzbekistan

Pre-action demand notices, economic court proceedings, court orders for receivables acknowledged in documents, and enforcement through Uzbek bailiff services. Bond Stone manages cross-border debt recovery mandates involving Chinese, Turkish, UAE, and European creditors with Uzbek debtors — from pre-action demand through court judgment and asset execution.

TICC — Tashkent International Commercial Court

The TICC is being established within the TIFC framework — an independent two-instance English-language court, not yet operating, with jurisdiction over disputes that parties submit to it by agreement. Clause wording should await the TIFC Acts and TICC rules. Bond Stone's AIFC Court experience is a useful reference point.

Law on International Commercial Arbitration No. ZRU-674 (2021)

Uzbekistan's law on international commercial arbitration — adopted 16 February 2021. Modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law, providing an internationally familiar framework. Domestic arbitration remains under the Law on Arbitration Courts No. ZRU-64 of 16 October 2006. Arbitration agreements must be in writing.

State entity restrictions

Disputes with foreign persons over property owned by the Republic of Uzbekistan fall within the exclusive competence of the Uzbek economic courts (Economic Procedure Code, Art. 240), so an arbitration clause may not hold for them. Bond Stone advises on arbitrability analysis for contracts with Uzbek state entities before the arbitration clause is finalised.

New York Convention enforcement

Uzbekistan acceded to the New York Convention, which entered into force for it on 7 May 1996. Foreign arbitral awards are recognised and enforced by Uzbek economic courts under the Convention. The grounds for refusal follow Article V, including public policy. Bond Stone advises on enforceability risk assessment before arbitral proceedings are commenced.

Limitation periods

The general limitation period is 3 years (Civil Code, Art. 150), from when the claimant knew or should have known of the breach. Legislation may set shorter or longer special periods (Art. 151). Bond Stone assesses limitation risk at the outset of every dispute resolution mandate in Uzbekistan.