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Kyrgyzstan to toughen punishment for bride kidnapping

The Interior Ministry proposes to toughen the punishment for bride kidnapping. The Ministry of Internal Affairs submitted the corresponding draft law for public discussion.

The background statement says that not only deprivation of liberty from five to ten years, but also a fine from 100,000 to 200,000 soms must be provided for kidnapping of a girl under 17 for marriage.

The Interior Ministry also proposes to increase the amount of fines for forcing a woman to marry or interfering with her intention to marry. Under the current legislation, such a crime is punished by a fine from 10,000 to 20,000 soms or restriction of freedom for up to three years. Now the fines can range from 100,000 to 200,000 soms or a prison term up to 3 years.

From 2013 to 2018, the internal affairs agencies registered 895 reports and bride kidnapping statements but criminal proceedings were not instituted on 727 facts, because they were not confirmed.

In 2017, at least 11 criminal cases out of 28 sent to the courts were dismissed, 16 people received suspended sentences, and only one man was sentenced to five years in prison.

Earlier, the deputy of the Parliament Aisuluu Mamashova demanded to toughen the punishment for bride kidnapping and equate it with kidnapping. This act is punishable by about 10 years in prison and even more.

Aisuluu Mamashova insists that the friends of an organizer of the kidnapping of a girl for marriage involved in it must be brought to criminal responsibility.

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