Kyrgyzstan has tightened penalties for begging and migration offences

Begging in public places is now punishable by 20 to 30 hours of community service or up to three days’ detention. For repeat offences, the penalties are increased to 40 hours of community service or up to five days’ detention. President Sadyr Zhaparov has signed a law amending the Code of Administrative Offences and the Law on External Migration.

Furthermore, if such acts are committed repeatedly by a foreign national, deportation from Kyrgyzstan is provided for.

A separate penalty is introduced for involving vulnerable groups in begging — the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women and those with mental health conditions. This carries a fine of 200 calculation units (20,000 KGS). For foreign nationals, expulsion also applies in the event of a repeat offence.

The amendments also affect migration legislation. Foreign nationals may now be held liable not only for exceeding the permitted duration of stay or lacking the necessary documents, but also for offences related to begging.

The law specifies that the internal affairs authorities are obliged to forward information on Kyrgyz citizens prosecuted for begging to the social protection authorities for the assessment of living conditions and the provision of assistance.

The document will come into force 10 days after its official publication. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic must bring its regulatory acts into line with the new provisions within six months.