Accessibility links

Breaking News

Kazakhstan Adopts Law On Deprivation Of Citizenship


Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev (file photo)
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev (file photo)

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has signed into law a controversial bill that would enable the authorities to annul the citizenship of people convicted of certain crimes related to terrorism and state security.

The Kazakh presidential administration said the measure was signed on July 11.

It was approved by both chambers of parliament in May and June.

Under the new law, Kazakhs could be stripped of their citizenship if they are convicted of organizing or joining terrorist groups, posing a threat to the Central Asian country's "vitally important interests," or plotting to kill the president, among other offenses.

Critics say the legislation might be used against many opposition politicians, some of whom have been living in self-imposed exile abroad, as the definition of "vitally important interests of Kazakhstan" is vague.

Nazarbaev, 76, has been in power since 1989, two years before Kazakhstan gained independence after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Based on reporting by KazTAG and zakon.kz

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG