Translated with AI
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has returned the law decriminalizing polygamy to the Zhogorku Kenesh (parliament) with objections. This was reported by Fergana.ru, citing the head of state's press service.
The President's objections were prepared based on the conclusions of the Ombudsman, the Prosecutor General's Office, the National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations, the National Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Justice, and the Office of the Constitutional Court.
The explanations note that maintaining criminal liability for bigamy and polygamy is consistent with Kyrgyzstan's international obligations, specifically the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and demonstrates a commitment to the principles of gender equality and the rule of law. According to government agencies, this protects women and children from legal and social inequality and strengthens the institution of the family, as established by the country's Constitution.
The law was initiated by two members of parliament, Nurlanbek Azygaliev and Meder Sakkarayev. They proposed repealing Article 176 of the Criminal Code, which stipulated penalties for bigamy or polygamy: community service of 100 to 300 hours, or correctional labor for a term of one to three years, or a fine of 500 to 1,000 calculated units (50,000 to 100,000 soms, equivalent to $572 to $1,144).
The Zhogorku Kenesh adopted the law on June 25, 2025, in three readings without debate. Notably, of the 16 female deputies present at the meeting, 14 supported the bill; the rest did not participate in the vote.
