Deputies express concerns that the bill grants "immunity" to officials
In the Jogorku Kenesh, a discussion was held on the bill proposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which suggests restoring the institution of recidivism, tightening penalties for those who have already been convicted, and introducing property confiscation for certain offenses.
The main goal of this bill is to combat organized crime and prevent recidivism. It is proposed to consider intentional crimes committed by individuals who already have a conviction for similar acts as recidivism. For such offenders, stricter penalties are introduced: the minimum prison term is increased, and parole and probation supervision are not applied; in cases of particularly dangerous recidivism, the punishment approaches the maximum.
The bill also clarifies the responsibility of those acting in the interests of the state, security, or constitutional order. The authors believe this is necessary to protect sovereignty and the rights of citizens. However, these provisions have drawn criticism from deputies.
Deputy Dastan Bekeshev noted that some articles of the bill place the Criminal Code above the Constitution. "We are allowing actions that may be criminally punishable, justifying them by claiming they are aimed at protecting economic, informational, or environmental security. This approach contradicts the interests of citizens and should be rejected," he stated.
The Committee on Law and Order proposed to exclude Articles 18 and 50 of the Criminal Code, which allow for justifying criminal actions in the interests of the state. Deputy Elvira Surabaldiyeva emphasized that these norms cause disagreements in society and called for their exclusion.
Supporters of the bill insist on its necessity to reduce the level of repeat offenses, combat organized crime, and strengthen law and order. They refer to data indicating that after the abolition of the institution of recidivism, the number of repeat offenses among convicts rose to 88-89%, with many of them being committed by groups.
The concept of the bill was approved in the first reading with the condition of further refinement and agreement on contentious points. The discussion of the bill will continue to achieve a balance between increasing responsibility and protecting the rights of citizens.
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