Kidnapping brides is now punishable by law in Kazakhstan
The Republic of Kazakhstan has implemented significant changes to its criminal legislation as of September 16, aiming to protect citizens' rights and freedoms, particularly in sensitive issues such as human trafficking and forced marriage.
The law "On Amending and Supplementing Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Optimizing Criminal Legislation" has been introduced, which includes the addition of a new Article 125-1 "Forced Marriage" to the Criminal Code.
Previously, a person who voluntarily released a victim could be exempt from criminal responsibility in Kazakhstan. However, with the removal of the note to Article 125 of the Criminal Code, the voluntary release of a victim will no longer exempt the offender from criminal responsibility.
Investigations into the suspected organized street gang exploiting social risk groups from Kazakhstan and securing large bank loans in their names have been taken over by the responsible law enforcement authorities. While the exact organization is not explicitly specified, it is likely that the financial police or organized crime units are involved.
The prosecutor's office of the Akmola region had previously completed the investigation into a case of an organized criminal group trafficking socially vulnerable Kazakhstanis and obtaining large bank loans in their names.
Criminal liability has been introduced for forced marriage in Kazakhstan, with the penalty ranging from a fine of up to 2,000 monthly calculation indicators to imprisonment of up to 10 years. The severity of the punishment increases when the coercion is accompanied by violence, involves minors, exploitation of dependency, group action, or abuse of official position.
These changes aim to prevent forced marriages and protect vulnerable categories, especially women and minors. The changes also aim to strengthen the protection of citizens' rights and freedoms, marking a significant step forward in Kazakhstan's efforts to combat human trafficking and forced marriages.
It is now clear that even if a victim is released voluntarily, the offender will still face punishment in Kazakhstan. This sends a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will be held accountable for their actions.
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