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Tengrinews.kz – Seven criminal cases have been opened in Kazakhstan under a new law that criminalizes the abduction of a person for the purpose of marriage, citing Polisia.kz.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded that since September 16, a new article — 125-1 “Coercion to marriage” — has been added to the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan. The law establishes penalties of up to seven years in prison for forcing a person into marriage or cohabitation, and up to ten years under aggravating circumstances.
Previously, a kidnapper could avoid punishment by voluntarily releasing the victim. Under the new law, liability is inevitable regardless of whether the person is released.
“Since the new amendment took effect, law enforcement agencies have launched seven criminal cases related to forced marriage across the Karaganda, Mangystau, Zhambyl, and Turkistan regions, as well as in the city of Shymkent. A total of 15 individuals have been detained,” the ministry reported.
All cases are currently under pretrial investigation, with police establishing the circumstances of each incident.
The Ministry urged citizens not to remain indifferent to cases of violence or coercion into marriage and to immediately report such incidents to the police via the hotline 102.
Earlier, the Prosecutor General’s Office noted that the first cases were registered in Shymkent and the Kyzylorda region — both involving underage victims.
