What Will Be Considered Stalking? The Ministry of Justice Explains

Kazakhstan is introducing criminal liability for stalking, an obsessive and unlawful pursuit of a person, which can lead to serious consequences. The proposed legal norms were presented in the Senate as part of amendments aimed at streamlining criminal legislation, Orda.kz reports.

According to Daulet Suleimenov, Director of the Department of Legislation in the Sphere of Public Order at the Ministry of Justice, stalking will be covered under a new article — 115-1 of the Criminal Code, titled “Unlawful pursuit of a person that poses a significant public danger.”

This offense involves the actual infliction of psychological trauma on the victim by the stalker, instilling fear, anxiety for one’s life, health, and so on. Stalking is often accompanied by threats, insults, and the humiliation of the victim’s honor and dignity, which are independently punishable under the current Criminal Code,  Suleimenov said during a briefing at the CCS.

At present, stalking-related actions fall under various separate articles of the law, but there is no single, comprehensive provision specifically addressing systematic stalking.

The Ministry of Justice emphasizes that the lack of a dedicated anti-stalking law creates a legal vacuum that puts potential victims at real risk.

Stalking may start as psychological harassment but can escalate into more serious offenses.

Without protective mechanisms, the consequences can be even more severe — physical violence, sexual assault, injury, or property damage. Prolonged stalking, especially when the victim refuses to comply with the stalker’s demands, can lead to retaliation toward the stalked person and the commission of serious or especially serious crimes against the person and property, the Ministry noted.

Special attention is being given to domestic and family-related stalking, such as cases involving former partners, spouses, or relatives.

According to Suleimenov, criminal liability will serve as a preventive tool, allowing intervention before a stalker turns violent.

Establishing criminal liability for stalking, including in domestic settings, will help protect potential victims from individuals who may not yet have used physical violence, but are already deliberately violating personal freedom and safety, he said.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova