Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health has proposed tightening the application of chemical castration for individuals convicted of sexual crimes against minors. Draft amendments published on the Open NPA platform outline a new mechanism mandating the procedure six months prior to a convict’s release from prison.
Ministry of Health Proposal
Under the proposed changes, prisoners would undergo a compulsory forensic psychiatric evaluation one year before their scheduled release to assess the risk of recidivism. If deemed necessary, chemical castration would follow six months later.
“An amendment is being introduced on the use of chemical castration six months before release and the referral of materials by the administration of the institution no later than twelve months before the expiry of the sentence to the court for the appointment of a forensic psychiatric examination,” the explanatory note states.
Legal Basis and Procedure
Chemical castration is regulated under Article 91 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code. It is currently applied to individuals over the age of 18 convicted of crimes against the sexual integrity of minors, provided they have been diagnosed with a disorder of sexual preference.
The procedure involves the administration of antiandrogenic medication to suppress testosterone levels and reduce sexual drive. Presently, the measure can only be imposed by court order.
The Ministry of Health argues that conducting the procedure shortly before release would minimize the risk of reoffending during the immediate post-release period, which is considered particularly high-risk.
Lifelong Supervision Also Under Consideration
In a parallel initiative, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has proposed introducing lifetime administrative supervision for convicted pedophiles. Currently, such supervision is limited to eight years.
“We can also restrict leaving the house at night,” said Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Lepekha. “Previously, supervision lasted eight years. Now, it is planned to be significantly extended.”
Under the proposal, courts would reassess each case every six months based on the likelihood of recidivism. Additional measures may include restrictions on visiting educational institutions, curfews, and more. Violations would carry administrative or criminal penalties.
A Push for Surgical Castration
A more extreme measure was proposed in 2024 by parliament deputy Yelnur Beisenbayev, who advocated for the surgical castration of pedophiles, calling it a powerful deterrent.
“I spoke in favor of surgical castration. We included this provision in the draft law, but the government did not support it, citing concerns about violating privacy,” Beisenbayev said.
He criticized the government’s stance as “spineless,” asserting that physical castration could serve as both a preventive measure and a means to protect children from violent sexual crimes.
