Mazhilis MP Calls to Soften Liability for Kazakhstanis Drawn into Foreign Wars for Pay

A deputy from Kazakhstan’s ruling AMANAT party has asked officials to consider softening criminal liability for citizens who took part in foreign armed conflicts, arguing many were recruited through deception or coercion, Orda.kz reports.

The request was voiced by MP Zharkynbek Amantayuly in the Mazhilis. He said that amid rising geopolitical tensions, sanctions pressure, and armed conflicts worldwide, recruitment attempts targeting Kazakhstanis are increasing and often rely on manipulation or propaganda.

Unfortunately, the number of our compatriots who have fallen under such influence is increasing. The number of registered criminal cases under Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (participation in foreign armed conflicts) is growing every year. In particular, 23 cases were registered in 2023, 36 in 2024, and 141 cases in 2025. In 2025, 26 citizens were convicted in the registered cases. This trend shows that the escalation of military conflicts around the world has led to an increase in the manipulation of citizens into becoming involved.he said. 

At the same time, he noted that in international practice, citizens’ participation in the official armed forces of other states is not always automatically treated as a crime.

He argued that many who went abroad did so for economic reasons — expecting “a high-paying job” — and only later realized what they had become involved in, leaving families to bear the consequences as well. 

Of course, no one goes to an armed conflict zone in search of death for no reason. Some go because of social hardship, some out of delusion or deception, and some under coercion. Many of those who end up in this situation say they went in the hope of getting a high-paying job. Realizing they have been deceived, a person becomes a participant in bloody battles in a foreign country and understands there is no turning back. Their parents, families, and loved ones suffer as a result. However, for citizens who have repented and want to return home, the strict sanctions in the current legislation are a serious obstacle. he added. 

The deputy proposed considering the “humanization” of legislation for citizens who did not belong to terrorist organizations, did not commit war crimes, and returned to Kazakhstan voluntarily.

Specifically, he proposed:

• studying international practice and drafting amendments to the Criminal Code covering Articles 170–172;
• introducing a differentiated legal assessment mechanism for such citizens;
• providing for the possibility of suspended sentences, restriction of liberty, probation supervision, or other alternative measures;
• developing a state programme for the legal, psychological, and social rehabilitation of returnees who took part in foreign conflicts.

Original author: Ilya Astakhov

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