The Senate of Kazakhstan approved the law on the criminalization of domestic violence

Deputies of the Senate of Kazakhstan approved laws criminalizing domestic violence and introducing a life sentence for pedophilia. The laws provide for tougher penalties for all forms of violence against children and a whole range of preventive measures to combat domestic violence, reports Kazakh service of Radio Liberty.

For assault, the bill specifies a fine of up to 658, or community service of up to 80 hours, or arrest of up to 25 days. Now fines and arrest do not exceed $123 and 15 days. If these actions are committed with particular cruelty against a minor and a person carrying out official activities or performing a professional or public duty, restriction or imprisonment of up to two years may be applied.

The law also criminalizes incitement to suicide or inducement to suicide, with penalties ranging from five to nine years in prison. In addition, a new criminal liability for promoting suicide is being introduced in the form of a fine of $1,651.

In recent years, the topic of violence against women and domestic violence in Kazakhstan remains one of the most discussed, notes the Kazakh RS Service. One of the most high-profile cases was the murder of Saltanat Nukenova, the suspect was her husband, former Minister of National Economy Kuandyk Bishimbayev.

According to statistics, in Kazakhstan, the majority of women were subjected to force by their husbands or people in relationships with them. Every year, the police receive more than 100 thousand reports of domestic violence.

The bills approved by the Senate were previously adopted by the lower house of parliament. Now the president must sign them.

• In Russia, human rights defenders and activists have been pushing for the adoption of a law to criminalize domestic violence for many years. Over 12 years, bills on the prevention of domestic violence were introduced to the State Duma more than 40 times, but did not pass a single reading. In 2017, the article for battery was removed from the Russian Criminal Code, and administrative liability was introduced for domestic violence.
• In 2022, one of the bills was promoted by the Chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, wrote Vorstka. The publication, citing sources, reported that consideration of the document was blocked at the initiative of the Russian Orthodox Church.