Complicity in crime: liability for acts committed on someone else’s instructions

Statements such as “I was only following instructions,” “It was not my idea,” or “A friend asked me to help” do not automatically remove criminal liability. Even when acting at another person’s request, individuals must understand the nature and consequences of their actions and act within the law.

Under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, complicity means the joint participation of two or more people in an intentional crime. Liability may extend beyond the person who directly commits the offence to those who organise it, encourage its commission or knowingly assist.

Complicity is not limited to directly taking someone else’s property or harming a victim. Providing tools or removing obstacles while knowing the criminal purpose, or promising in advance to conceal property obtained through crime, may constitute assistance in a criminal offence. For example, deliberately acting as a lookout for a friend committing theft cannot be treated as an ordinary favour.

A person’s knowledge of the criminal purpose and intentional contribution are essential. Merely knowing an offender, being at the scene by chance or providing an ordinary service without knowing about a criminal plan does not itself establish complicity. In each case, evidence must establish what the person knew, intended and actually did.

Carrying out an order known to be criminal does not remove liability either. Instructions from a supervisor, acquaintance or influential person do not make criminal conduct lawful. Where threats or coercion are involved, their effect on the person’s ability to control their actions must be assessed under the applicable legal rules.

Liability and punishment depend on the offence, the individual’s role, the extent of their participation and other relevant circumstances. Participants do not necessarily receive identical sentences. However, saying that someone else performed the main acts does not excuse knowingly helping a crime take place.

If you receive a suspicious request, clarify its purpose and refuse to participate in unlawful conduct. If you are threatened, prioritise your safety, preserve existing messages and contact law enforcement. Seek assistance from a lawyer where necessary. Friendship, obedience or the promise of quick money should never become a reason to break the law.