According to the proposed amendments to the Code of Offenses, for begging on the roads and for persistent requests for help in public places, community service may be imposed for a period of 20 to 30 hours or arrest for up to three days.
In the case of a repeated offense within a month, the punishment will become stricter: from 30 to 40 hours of community service or arrest from three to five days. Foreigners caught committing a repeated offense may be deported from the country.
The bill also provides for liability for involving vulnerable groups in begging, such as the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and those with mental disorders. For this violation, a fine of 20,000 soms is proposed, and foreigners may also face deportation.
