Bishkek, 30 April 1997 (RFE/RL) - Kyrgyzstan's parliament yesterday adopted on first reading a new criminal code that will replace the old Soviet version that has been in effect since the 1970's.
Legislator Kubatbek Baibolov led the committee that worked on the draft for over a year. Under the new statutes, fewer offensives will be punishable by the death penalty, while maximum prison terms will be raised from 15 to 35 years.
Three female parliamentarians walked out of yesterday's session protesting the new criminal code. The women objected to the dropping of a law from the previous statutes that outlawed polygamy.