Kyrgyz president rejects law abolishing criminal liability for polygamy, returns bill to Parliament

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov has formally returned to Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) the law “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic,” which sought to abolish criminal penalties for bigamy and polygamy.

The legislation, initiated by Members of Parliament Nurlanbek Azigaliyev and Mederbek Sakkaraev, was adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh on June 25, 2025. However, the president has raised objections to the bill, citing its inconsistency with both national and international legal standards, Caliber.Az reports, citing Kyrgyz media.

Zhaparov’s objections were based on assessments from several key institutions, including the Office of the Ombudsman, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations, the National Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Justice, and the Constitutional Court.

According to these institutions, preserving criminal liability for bigamy and polygamy aligns with Kyrgyzstan’s international obligations and reflects the state’s commitment to gender equality and the rule of law. They further argue that the current legal provisions serve to protect women and children from legal and social discrimination and contribute to the reinforcement of the family institution as enshrined in the country’s Constitution and legislative framework.

Under existing law, polygamy in Kyrgyzstan is punishable by corrective labour or a significant fine.

By Vafa Guliyeva