International Arbitration in Uzbekistan

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 represents clients in TIAC proceedings from its Tashkent office. TIAC often suits disputes between private parties where both sides have Uzbek connections.

ICC — International Chamber of Commerce

ICC arbitration is widely used for major cross-border disputes involving Uzbekistan — particularly in energy, mining, infrastructure, and M&A contexts. ICC Rules provide for scrutiny of awards, Terms of Reference, and an internationally recognised procedural framework. Bond Stone advises on ICC arbitration strategy and acts as Uzbekistan-side counsel in ICC proceedings, managing local evidence gathering, witness preparation, and enforcement of ICC awards in Uzbekistan.

ISTAC — Istanbul Arbitration Centre

ISTAC is highly relevant for Uzbekistan-Turkey commercial disputes — Turkey accounts for 6.4% of Uzbekistan's FDI and is among the country's top trading partners. Bond Stone's ISTAC clause and forum strategy work for Kazakhstan–Turkey disputes is directly applicable to Uzbekistan–Turkey trade, goods supply, and distribution agreement disputes. ISTAC awards are enforceable in Uzbekistan under the New York Convention.

LCIA — London Court of International Arbitration

LCIA arbitration under English law is elected in international financing agreements, shareholder agreements, and cross-border M&A transactions involving Uzbekistan where one party insists on a neutral, internationally recognised forum. Bond Stone advises on LCIA clause drafting and acts as Uzbekistan-side counsel, coordinating local evidence and managing enforcement of LCIA awards in Uzbekistan.

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

Uzbekistan's international commercial arbitration law — adopted 16 February 2021, modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law. Domestic arbitration remains under the Law on Arbitration Courts No. ZRU-64 of 16 October 2006. Arbitration agreements must be in writing. The 2021 law gave Uzbekistan a dedicated international framework aligned with international practice.

State entity restrictions — critical for contract drafting

In cases with foreign persons, disputes over property owned by the Republic of Uzbekistan, including privatisation and expropriation, fall within the exclusive competence of the Uzbek economic courts (Economic Procedure Code, Art. 240) — arbitration clauses in contracts with state entities may be unenforceable for these categories. Bond Stone conducts arbitrability analysis before finalising any arbitration clause in a contract with an Uzbek state counterparty.

New York Convention enforcement in Uzbekistan

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 — grounds for refusal mirror Article V of the Convention, including public policy. Bond Stone advises on enforceability risk assessment before arbitral proceedings are commenced against an Uzbek respondent.

CISG applicability

Uzbekistan is a party to the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). It applies to sales between parties in different Contracting States, or where conflict rules lead to a Contracting State's law, unless the parties exclude it. A contract should say expressly whether the CISG applies.

Seat selection — Tashkent vs foreign seat

A Tashkent seat applies Uzbek arbitration law as the curial law — appropriate for disputes between Uzbek parties or where the Uzbek party insists on a local seat. A foreign seat (London, Singapore, Stockholm, Dubai) applies the curial law of that jurisdiction — preferred by international investors for major transactions. Bond Stone advises on seat selection based on the counterparty profile, governing law, and enforcement strategy.