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A proposed amnesty law in Kazakhstan has sparked debate in the Parliament's Mazhilis, with lawmakers scrutinizing its potential risks and statistical accuracy. The discussion highlighted concerns about transparency and the possibility of unintended consequences.

Statistical Discrepancies Emerge

During the first reading of the bill to amend the Law on Amnesty, Member of Parliament Bakytzhan Bazarbek expressed general support for the initiative, acknowledging its importance for citizens. However, he pointed out a significant discrepancy in the financial figures related to the amnesty. While one estimate suggested the amnesty would apply to fines totaling 17 billion tenge, a representative from the Prosecutor General's Office cited a figure closer to 21 billion tenge.

"Why are these figures different? I ask you to explain," stated Bazarbek, seeking clarification on the conflicting data. Sabit Nurlybai, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Accounts, addressed the concern. He explained that the Prosecutor General's Office compiles the list of administrative cases, which are handled by approximately 70 government bodies, primarily the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Nurlybai confirmed that over 1.4 million administrative cases, amounting to 21 billion tenge, are handled by various state bodies, with the 17 billion tenge figure specifically relating to cases within the Ministry of Internal Affairs' purview.

Risks and the Case of Jomart Eртаев

Bazarbek's second major concern revolved around the risks associated with applying the amnesty, particularly referencing the high-profile case of former banker Jomart Eртаев. Eртаев, who was previously released under an amnesty, later had that decision overturned. This situation raised questions about preventing similar occurrences and ensuring that individuals who have caused public concern do not benefit from the amnesty.

"Has an analysis been conducted to prevent similar situations? Have the risks of individuals who raise questions in society being included in the amnesty been studied? I also ask you to provide a complete list of individuals who will be covered by the amnesty," Bazarbek urged.

Responding to the request for a list, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov stated that the personal data of convicted individuals is protected by law. "Convicted individuals also have their rights, so the disclosure of personal data is not permitted," Adilov explained. He assured that such information is verified through information systems and accessible only to authorized officials performing their duties.

The case of Jomart Eртаев, who was convicted in 2020 for embezzling 144 billion tenge from Bank RBK, gained notoriety when he was initially released under amnesty. However, the court ruling for his release was later annulled. The Almaty Regional Court clarified that while a lower court had applied amnesty for the remaining 11 months and 16 days of his sentence, the appellate panel had overturned this decision.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.