Kazakhstan is toughening punishment for terrorism

Punishment for terrorism will be toughened in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews.kz reports citing deputy Prosecutor General Iogan Merkel. Answering MPs' statement that the punishment for extremist activities in Kazakhstan is not as tough as in Russia and Belarus and the question whether it is possible to change the punishment for terrorism, Merkel said: “Currently the General Prosecutor’s office has a task to develop a new Kazakhstan Civil Code. Working on this project, we are considering this issue as well. Specific instructions on increasing responsibility for terrorism in general, including for financing terrorism, have been given to all special and law-enforcement authorities and they will offer their suggestions by the end of the month.” Deputy Prosecutor General said that the draft of the new Civil Code would be presented to the Parliament for discussion in the first quarter of 2013. This discussion was part of the revision of the draft law stipulating amendments to the legislative acts on legalization (laundering) of incomes received illegally and financing of terrorism. Earlier head of Kazakhstan Constitutional Council Igor Rogov consulted lawyers on the possibility of adopting the practice of the United States on apprehension of suspected terrorists for over 72 hours without court sanctions in Kazakhstan. Back then Iogan Merkel said that such U.S. practice was not acceptable for Kazakhstan. By Renat Tashkinbayev