Tengrinews.kz – Deputies of the Mazhilis have passed the law "On Amnesty in Connection with the 30th Anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
The document was developed following a directive from the President, announced in April 2025.
What the law proposes
To release individuals who committed:
- Criminal infractions or minor offenses;
- Medium-gravity crimes, if no damage was caused or the damage was fully compensated;
- Medium-gravity crimes committed by socially vulnerable groups — regardless of the damage caused.
The law also proposes to close criminal cases for minor and medium-gravity crimes committed before the law comes into force, even if the court has not yet issued a verdict.
It also provides for reduced sentences for those convicted of serious and especially serious crimes.
For those convicted of fraud or embezzlement of large sums, the sentence will be reduced by one-fifth if the damage has been fully compensated.
Who is not eligible for amnesty:
- Those who committed particularly dangerous crimes;
- Corrupt officials;
- Those guilty of violence, bodily harm, or disclosure of state secrets.
According to the authors, the implementation of the law will reduce the number of prisoners, will not require budget expenditures, and will not cause negative consequences.
The law has been supported by all relevant Mazhilis committees. Discussions included representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor General's Office, Ministry of Justice, judges, military, NGOs, and other government agencies.
How many people may be released
According to Mazhilis deputy Abzal Kuspan, 6,000 convicts currently held in prisons and 9,000 individuals under probation supervision fall under the amnesty.
"A total of 15,000 people will be affected. About 632 individuals will be released from correctional institutions, along with 3,500 convicts under probation — in total, 4,100 people. A differentiated sentence reduction will be applied to 11,000 individuals. The bill also covers 833 women, of whom 109 will be released and 724 will receive reduced sentences," said Kuspan during the plenary session of the Mazhilis.