Kazakhstan: MP Comments on Amnesty for Incarcerated Women

The Ministry of Internal Affairs claims that releasing female prisoners will facilitate budget savings but may entail risks. However, MP Karakat Abden, who put forward this idea, commented, an Orda.kz correspondent reports.

More than two thousand women may fall under the amnesty in honor of the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence. Karakat Abden claims that society should not be afraid since those who will be released have not committed dangerous crimes.

There will be a thorough analysis and selection; these points are spelled out in the laws. It is necessary to amnesty those women who did not commit crimes dangerous to society. We are talking about non-violent crimes, we have clearly defined the desired criteria - pregnant women, women with many children, women over 60, women who have small children at home, the Majilis deputy explained.

The parliamentarian and Auyl party member added that the main goal is not  budget savings, as the Ministry of Internal Affairs wants, but to "preserve the family institution."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs supported the idea of the Auyl party to release specific incarcerated women.

The department warned that amnesty carries potential risks: protest sentiments may arise among citizens who suffered from crimes, and those released will again commit violations.

Today in Kazakhstan, 6,399 women are serving sentences for criminal offenses, of which 2,692 are in prison, and 3,707 are under probation control.

Original Author: Dilnaz Mamyrova