Who may get debt relief under Kazakhstan’s amnesty: senator names first groups
Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan is preparing the first administrative amnesty in its history, including the write-off of fines. The parameters of the initiative are currently being discussed by a working group. A senator shared the details with journalists.
Senator Marat Kozhayev spoke on the sidelines of the government about what the amnesty might look like. According to him, proposals are currently being collected from various state agencies, and the final model is still taking shape.
Who may be exempted
At this stage of the discussions, priority is being given to socially vulnerable groups.
“First of all, there are proposals to grant amnesty to socially vulnerable groups — veterans, people with disabilities, large families, and other categories,” Kozhayev said.
At the same time, the list remains open for now: decisions will be made after all proposals are analyzed.
What will happen to the fines
The key innovation is the discussion of writing off fines. According to the senator, this could apply to a wide range of administrative cases, provided they do not pose a threat to society.
“Fines may be written off for almost all subjects of administrative justice, if this does not pose a threat to people,” he said.
During the discussions, the issue of possible budget losses is also being raised. However, as Kozhayev emphasized, the purpose of fines is not simply to replenish the treasury.
“There are concerns that this will affect revenues. But the purpose of fines is first and foremost the prevention of offenses, not filling the budget,” the senator noted.
What is known so far
The initiative is being developed on the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. As the Interior Ministry previously reported, the amnesty is expected to consider the full or partial cancellation of unpaid fines for individuals.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov had instructed the Interior Ministry, the Justice Ministry, and the Prosecutor General’s Office to submit proposals on the amnesty mechanism within two weeks.
It is expected that the amnesty will apply only to offenses that do not pose a threat to the safety of citizens or the state.