Kazakh president signs law on amnesty for participants of January riots

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a law on amnesty for those involved in the January protest rallies.

“The president signed the law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On amnesty”. The text of the law is published in the press,” Tengrinews.Kz reports citing the presidential press service.

According to the adopted law, some offenders will be released, while the prison term of some will be reduced, and, if necessary, assistance will be rendered for them to find jobs and housing.

“The adopted law was developed upon the president’s order. The law envisages the release from criminal liability and mitigation of punishment for those who committed criminal offences related to the riots during the "tragic January". Moreover, the law includes the conditions and procedure for applying the amnesty, as well as specific rules to whom it does not apply. We consider this measure as an act of humanism on the part of society and the state. We hope that such tragic events will never occur again in our country,” Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev said earlier.