Kyrgyzstan to put in force new criminal code in 2019

Almaty. February 3. Silkroadnews – Kyrgyzstan’s president Almazbek Atambayev has signed new Penitentiary and Criminal Codes, KyrTAG writes.

The codes are characterized by changes in format and content of the penitentiary legislation to strengthen its social functions and bring it closer to international norms and standards governing treatment of prisoners.

Along with building the conditions for correction of convicts the new format defines the additional goal for penitentiary penal law meaning creation of conditions for convicts’ re-socialization.  

Changes also include introduction of probation agencies assigned with execution of punishments (not related to social isolation) and control over convicted free on parole.

The principal directions of new criminal code are said to be ideas of humanization of justice, departure from the repressive measures of criminal law, development and introduction of new mechanisms of treatment of convicted person to contribute to his/her resocialization.

The high-priority tasks within these directions should include optimization of criminal responsibility; decriminalization of offenses in the Criminal Code; depenalization offenses in the Criminal Code; reform of punishment system and types; introduction of security measure into the Criminal Code; introduction of probation institute.

The Criminal Code will enter into force on 1 January 2019.