Almost 83% of cases involving the deposition of children's testimony in Kazakhstan's courts concern sexual offences.

(5 February 2026 | Source: press service of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan)

Kazakhstan's courts process around 800 requests for the deposition of minors' testimony annually. The majority of such cases (83%) are related to sexual offences. Deposition allows a child's testimony to be recorded during the investigation and trial stages without their presence.

PROCEDURE AND PARTICIPANTS

The deposition process involves judges, prosecutors, lawyers, investigators, educators, and psychologists. This format makes professional training and communication skills with children a key element in protecting minors' rights. To this end, standard questioning templates have been developed, aimed at the careful and comprehensive collection of testimony.

INTERNATIONAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS

At a joint seminar with the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation, particular attention was paid to methodological tools, training programmes for process participants, and the application of international practices for protecting minors in criminal proceedings.

DISCUSSION AND LEGISLATION

Representatives from the Prosecutor General's Office, the Commissioner for Children's Rights, the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Education, child support centres, and the bar association discussed current issues with the deposition of testimony.

Participants' proposals will be considered when drafting amendments to the legislation, though the specific timing and content of any possible changes have not been clarified.

For reference: the deposition of testimony is a procedure whereby a minor's testimony is officially recorded in accordance with the procedure established by law, in order to reduce the need for their repeated participation in court proceedings.