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Drug Trafficking

Uzbekistan Toughens Anti-Drug Laws as Synthetic Narcotics and Online Trafficking Rise

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved tougher measures against drug trafficking and endorsed reforms aimed at protecting public health, particularly among young people, as authorities respond to the growing spread of synthetic drugs and internet-based narcotics sales. According to the presidential press service, Mirziyoyev reviewed proposed legislative changes aimed at protecting public health and the nation’s gene pool from drug abuse. The review also covered road safety concerns. Officials outlined the significance of a recently adopted law that increases criminal liability for the illegal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, and other potent substances. The legislation, which had already been passed by parliament, introduces a new chapter in Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code titled “Crimes Against Public Health and the Nation’s Gene Pool.” Mirziyoyev signed the law following the presentation. The new provisions increase penalties for a range of offenses considered particularly dangerous to public health. They also introduce separate criminal liability for organizing illegal drug laboratories, facilitating drug trafficking operations, and running premises used for the illegal distribution or consumption of narcotics. More than 10 categories of drug-related crimes will face tougher punishment under the law. Officials told the president that Uzbekistan’s drug situation has changed significantly in recent years. Traditional narcotics are increasingly being replaced by synthetic drugs, while trafficking methods have shifted toward online platforms and contactless delivery systems. The emergence of clandestine drug laboratories inside the country has also highlighted the need for updated legal and institutional responses. A separate draft law, “On Narcotic Drugs and Potent Substances,” prepared by an interagency working group, was also presented. The proposed legislation identifies seven priority areas of state policy. These include raising public awareness, particularly among women and young people, preventing drug-related crimes committed online, and improving systems for early prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and social rehabilitation of people suffering from addiction. The draft law would also clearly define the responsibilities of 14 government agencies involved in combating drug trafficking and drug-related crime. Authorities plan to tighten oversight of the legal circulation of controlled substances through a digital monitoring system that would track them from import and production to distribution and sale. The presentation also addressed road safety. Officials noted that some traffic accidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities had involved minors driving vehicles unlawfully. In response, proposals were discussed to improve enforcement mechanisms and increase accountability for such violations. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Mirziyoyev dismissed several senior officials from the Interior Ministry in January, as well as from the National Guard and Emergency Situations Ministry. Among those removed was the head of the Agency for Control of Narcotics and Illegal Firearms, who was criticized for failing to effectively combat the illegal trafficking and use of drugs.

Stalking

Kazakhstan Considers Tougher Penalties for Repeat Stalking Offenses

Kazakhstan is considering prison terms of up to five years for repeat stalking offenders under proposed amendments discussed in the Majilis, the lower house of parliament. Criminal liability for stalking, defined as repeated unwanted attempts to establish contact with or track a person against their will, was introduced in Kazakhstan in 2025. Current penalties include a fine of up to 200 times the monthly calculation index, corrective labor in the same amount, community service of up to 200 hours, or arrest for up to 50 days. If stalking is accompanied by violence, threats, blackmail, or privacy violations, offenders may face additional charges under other provisions of the Criminal Code, carrying prison terms of up to two years. Speaking at the parliamentary roundtable, Amangeldy Doszhanov, deputy head of the Interior Ministry’s Investigative Department, said authorities have opened 274 criminal cases since the law entered into force. Of those, 83 have been sent to court and 59 have resulted in convictions. Participants in the discussion argued that the current legislation does not adequately distinguish between isolated incidents and prolonged, systematic harassment. "The same punishment currently applies both to one-off cases of unwanted communication and to systematic stalking," said Assel Tokayeva, a member of the Astana Bar Association and chair of the disciplinary commission of Kazakhstan’s National Bar Association. Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov said law enforcement agencies had encountered cases in which individuals convicted of stalking resumed their behavior after serving their sentences. "We are currently considering amendments to Article 115-1 of the Criminal Code," Adilov told lawmakers. "We propose introducing repeat offending as an aggravating factor and strengthening criminal liability." Under the proposed changes, repeat stalking offenses would be classified as crimes of medium gravity and could carry prison sentences of up to five years. The roundtable also reviewed measures aimed at preventing violence against women and expanding protections for victims of domestic abuse. According to Adilov, courts have prohibited 49 domestic abusers from approaching their victims since the beginning of the year, while special behavioral restrictions have been imposed on 9,200 offenders. More than 8,300 of them have been banned from consuming alcohol. The Interior Ministry reported that more than 41,000 people have been held administratively liable in domestic violence-related cases this year, while more than 11,000 offenders have received administrative arrest sentences. More than 10,000 people have also been punished for violating court-imposed restrictions and ordered to undergo mandatory psychological correction programs. Kazakhstan is not alone in expanding legal protections against stalking. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, neighboring Kyrgyzstan moved earlier this year to introduce criminal liability for stalking as part of wider efforts to address gender-based violence.

Stalking

Kyrgyzstan Moves to Introduce Criminal Liability for Stalking

On April 30, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, drafted amendments to the Criminal Code that would introduce criminal penalties for stalking. The proposed legislation defines stalking as the unlawful pursuit of an individual through persistent attempts to establish contact or conduct surveillance against their will, including via the internet, without the use of physical violence but resulting in physical or psychological suffering or material harm. Under the proposed amendments, stalking would be punishable by a fine or restriction of liberty for a period of six months to one year. More severe penalties are outlined for cases involving vulnerable groups. Stalking a pregnant woman, or a minor aged 14 to 18, could result in a fine, restriction of liberty for one to three years, or imprisonment for up to one year. Stalking a child under the age of 14 would carry a more severe prison sentence of three to five years. According to the bill’s explanatory note, the amendments are aimed at protecting citizens from unlawful harassment that threatens personal safety, psychological well-being, and the right to privacy. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, neighboring Kazakhstan introduced criminal liability for stalking in July 2025, when President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed amendments to the Criminal Code adding Article 115-1, titled “Stalking”.

Stalking

Stalking in Kazakhstan: Why People Have Only Started Talking About It Now

Until recently, stalking in Kazakhstan was widely perceived as something more typical of movies, TV dramas, or social media discussions than of everyday life. Persistent phone calls, dozens of messages, or being followed near one’s home or workplace were often not seen as a serious threat. Such behavior was frequently excused with phrases like “he just can’t let go,” “he’s just being too persistent in courting her,” or “that’s how he shows his feelings.” But in recent years, attitudes toward this issue have begun to change, and on September 16, 2025, amendments came into force in Kazakhstan, introducing a separate Article 115-1, “Stalking,” into the Criminal Code. Under this article, stalking is defined as the unlawful pursuit of a person, expressed in attempts to establish contact with and/or track them against their will, without the use of violence, but causing substantial harm. What Exactly Is Considered Stalking? In practice, stalking is not limited to following someone on the street. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs includes repeated phone calls, constant messaging, intrusive attempts to establish contact, harassment through social media, and other actions against a person’s will in this category. Official explanations also state that stalking may include threats, insults, defamation, online surveillance, reading private correspondence, monitoring through cameras, and GPS trackers. All of this causes fear, anxiety, and a sense of insecurity. For a long time, society did not view stalking as a separate problem for several reasons. First, many people still held the dangerous belief that persistence is almost normal, especially in the context of former relationships or attempts to “win over” someone’s attention. Second, psychological harm was often underestimated: if there were no bruises or obvious physical violence, it was assumed that there was no serious problem. Third, before a separate article appeared in the law, it was harder for people to explain exactly what was happening to them and why it deserved a legal response. The introduction of a clear legal norm helped call the problem by its proper name, and this matters not only for the police and courts, but also for the victims themselves. What Changed After the Law Was Adopted? In reality, stalking is not about feelings and not about “love that is too strong.” Its purpose is control, intrusion into another person’s personal boundaries, and forcing one’s presence upon them. The Ministry of Internal Affairs directly emphasizes that such actions cause serious harm to personal safety and psychological well-being. Stalking causes fear, stress, and anxiety about one’s life and health, and in some cases may escalate into more serious crimes, including violence, bodily harm, or property damage. The introduction of Article 115-1 showed that the state no longer regards intrusive harassment as something minor or as “a private story between two people.” The penalties for stalking include a fine of up to 200 monthly calculation indices (MCI), community service for up to 200 hours, or arrest for up to 50 days. If the harassment is accompanied by violence, threats, blackmail, or the unlawful...

criminal code

Kazakh Politician Proposes Softer Punishment for Citizens Who Join Foreign Military Conflicts

Zharkynbek Amantaiuly, a member of the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, has submitted a request to Prosecutor General Berik Asylov and Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov proposing that penalties be reconsidered for Kazakh citizens who participate in armed conflicts abroad. According to the lawmaker, growing geopolitical tensions and the increasing number of armed conflicts worldwide are contributing to a rise in the number of Kazakh citizens involved in hostilities outside the country. He noted that groups recruiting foreign citizens often rely on deception and targeted recruitment campaigns to attract participants. “Unfortunately, the number of our compatriots who have fallen under such influence is growing,” Amantaiuly said. According to data cited by him, 23 criminal cases were opened in Kazakhstan in 2023 under Article 172 of the Criminal Code, which concerns participation in foreign armed conflicts. The number increased to 36 cases in 2024 and rose sharply to 141 in 2025. Of the cases registered in 2025, 26 citizens have been convicted. The offense carries a prison sentence of between five and nine years. Amantaiuly argued that many citizens end up in conflict zones due to social difficulties, misconceptions, or deception, often after being promised high-paying jobs. “Of course, no one goes to an armed conflict zone without a reason. Many of those who find themselves in such situations say they hoped to obtain well-paid employment. When they realize they have been deceived, they become involved in bloody battles in a foreign country and understand that there is almost no way back. Their parents, families, and loved ones suffer as a result,” he said. He also noted that in some countries, participation in hostilities as part of the official armed forces of a foreign state is not considered a criminal offense. According to Amantaiuly, strict criminal liability is typically applied to individuals who join terrorist organizations, commit war crimes, or act against the national interests of their own country. For this reason, the deputy proposed studying international legal practices and preparing amendments to Kazakhstan’s criminal legislation governing citizens’ participation in armed conflicts abroad. In his view, the law should introduce a mechanism for differentiated legal assessment. Such a framework could allow for suspended sentences, restrictions on freedom, or probationary supervision for individuals who were not members of terrorist organizations, did not commit war crimes, and voluntarily returned to Kazakhstan. The deputy also proposed developing a state program for the legal, psychological, and social rehabilitation of such citizens. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, several Kazakh citizens who fought in Ukraine as part of the Wagner private military company have received prison sentences of up to six years. At the same time, Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee is investigating stand-up comedian Nurlan Saburov. According to media reports, he allegedly transferred motorcycle equipment purchased with his own funds to the same Wagner unit.

Crime

Kazakhstan Introduces Criminal Liability for Stalking

For the first time, Kazakhstan has established criminal liability for stalking at the legislative level, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. New Article in the Criminal Code On July 16, 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law amending the Criminal Code to include Article 115-1, titled “Stalking.” The article defines stalking as the unlawful pursuit of an individual through persistent attempts to establish contact or conduct surveillance against their will, causing significant harm but without the use of physical violence. Punishments include a fine of up to 200 monthly calculation indices (MCI), up to 200 hours of community service, or arrest for up to 50 days. If stalking involves threats, blackmail, or invasion of privacy, it may be prosecuted under other provisions of the Criminal Code. “The purpose of introducing this liability is to protect victims at an early stage and to establish zero tolerance for violent and aggressive behavior,” the Prosecutor General’s Office stated. From Proposal to Law The idea to criminalize stalking was first raised in 2023 during a coordination council meeting at the Prosecutor General’s Office. Marat Abishev, head of the Service for the Protection of Public Interests, highlighted the growing prevalence of obsessive harassment, particularly targeting women. “Women are increasingly faced with the phenomenon of stalking, that is, obsessive persecution,” he said. Abishev noted that many countries, including Germany, the US, Canada, the UK, Norway, Poland, Moldova, the Netherlands, and India, have long established criminal penalties for stalking. In contrast, Kazakhstan lacked even administrative regulation until now. Abishev initially proposed studying the issue and introducing relevant amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. However, the country has since taken a stronger stance by enacting full criminal liability. The General Prosecutor’s Office urges citizens not to ignore signs of stalking. “In such situations, it is necessary to immediately contact the internal affairs authorities,” the agency advised. How to Identify Stalking In an interview with MIR24.TV, lawyer Artem Baghdasaryan explained that under the new Kazakh legislation, stalking involves intrusive, repeated attempts to contact or monitor a person against their will, resulting in significant psychological or personal harm but without physical violence. He emphasized that stalking is defined by systematic behavior rather than isolated incidents. Key indicators include: Continuous surveillance near the victim’s home or in public Frequent phone calls, text messages, or unwanted social media interactions Collecting personal data without consent, such as routes or contacts Lurking in public places frequented by the victim Internationally, this list often includes online harassment and the sending of unsolicited gifts. Comparison with International Practice Many Western countries have recognized stalking as a criminal offense since the 1990s, with laws in the US, UK, and Germany carrying prison terms for offenders. In contrast, Russia has not yet adopted a separate criminal statute. There, lawmakers have proposed a phased approach: beginning with administrative liability and restraining orders, followed by criminal prosecution for repeat offenses. “While Kazakhstan has taken a decisive step by introducing a criminal article right away, Russia is moving toward gradual...