Kazakhstan will carry out its first administrative amnesty, with the possible write-off of fines for citizens. The initiative is being implemented as part of the updated Constitution and involves a review of approaches to liability for offences that do not pose a threat to society.
At the ceremony for signing the decree on measures to implement Kazakhstan’s updated Constitution, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called it an “strategic mandate of trust” and emphasised the need to reset relations between the state and its citizens.
WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AMNESTY INCLUDES
This concerns the easing of liability for certain offences that do not threaten the safety of citizens or the state.
As Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov clarified, those who have committed serious crimes will not be covered by the amnesty. Exceptions include:
- terrorism and extremism;
- corruption offences;
- crimes against minors;
- torture;
- repeat offenders and wanted persons.
POSSIBLE WRITE-OFF OF FINES
The issue of fully or partially writing off unpaid fines for individuals is being considered separately.
However, specific categories of citizens, the amounts to be written off, and the procedure for applying it have not yet been determined — these parameters will be developed during the preparation of the relevant draft law.
CONNECTION TO CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
The initiative is directly linked to the adoption of the updated 2026 Constitution. The President emphasised that the Basic Law reflects the public demand for justice, humanism and long-term development.
According to him, the administrative amnesty will become a symbol of a new approach to legal policy and an important step in establishing humanistic values in society.
WHAT COMES NEXT
The President instructed Parliament to pass the amnesty law before the end of the current session. Following this, state bodies will begin implementing the mechanism in practice.
Overall, these measures reflect the consistent introduction of new constitutional norms aimed at balancing the interests of the state and its citizens, and improving the effectiveness of the legal system.