The discussion of administrative amnesty in the Majilis has gone beyond the framework of humanizing legislation and touched on the issue of the effectiveness of crime control. Against the backdrop of a high-profile traffic accident in Almaty, deputies are calling for increased accountability for offenses to ensure the safety of citizens.

During a plenary session of the Parliament’s Majilis, deputy Aidos Sarym raised the issue of administrative amnesty. The impetus was the fatal accident in Almaty, which caused widespread public outcry.

“The recent tragedy on Al-Farabi Avenue in Almaty has once again confronted us with a harsh but extremely pressing question: do we have sufficient legal mechanisms to choose proportionate accountability for criminals and offenders?” the deputy noted.

He elaborated in detail on the consequences of the incident.

“The actions of the accused in the accident claimed the lives of three people. Children were left without parents, and parents lost their children. The tragedy shattered the lives of their family members. Their lives will never be the same again,” the deputy emphasized.

Aidos Sarym drew attention to the public’s reaction to such tragedies and its impact on trust in the system.

“Let’s be honest with ourselves: such tragedies evoke a natural feeling of helplessness, anxiety, and concern for the life and safety of each of us, our relatives and loved ones. Worse still, such incidents trigger mechanisms of distrust and skepticism, divide society and the government, and breed disbelief in the effectiveness of law and order,” the Majilis member stated.

Moving from assessing the situation, Aidos Sarym turned to practical conclusions.

“The logic is simple – if society does not feel protected, then the mechanisms of accountability must be revisited. I believe that the competent authorities must fundamentally assess the existing mechanisms for holding individuals accountable for traffic accidents resulting in death and committed under the influence of alcohol, and submit proposals for establishing punishments proportionate to the acts,” the deputy noted.

At the same time, he emphasized that this is not about seeking a unique solution, as the necessary measures already exist in global practice.

The Majilis member confirmed that the amnesty initiative itself is perceived positively by society. However, he noted that demands have also arisen that carry risks.

“The administrative amnesty initiated by our President has been positively received by society. A significant portion of experts and civil society believe that such an amnesty will be another step towards building a Just Kazakhstan, helping to relieve the heavy burden on socially vulnerable segments of the population. However, at the same time, we are observing negative processes. We hear organized voices from those who were once deprived of their driver’s licenses, demanding that they be included in the amnesty lists and have their driving rights restored,” the deputy emphasized.

Aidos Sarym explained his position, stressing why this issue cannot be approached formally.

“Who are these drivers who have lost their licenses? The vast majority are those who systematically broke the law, who got behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants, who ignored traffic rules and thereby threatened the safety of others. They are not just harmless violators; they are potential killers. They are the ones whose actions have already once put the health and destinies of others at risk. By restoring their driving rights through amnesty, we are effectively giving them a second chance tomorrow to endanger someone’s life. We are consciously increasing the risk of new tragedies,” the deputy noted.

Speaking about the amnesty itself, he explained his understanding of its essence.

“Amnesty is an act of humanity by the state and society. But humanism should not extend to actions that pose a direct threat to the lives of citizens. We categorically oppose the inclusion of ‘license-deprived individuals’ in any amnesty mechanisms related to the restoration of driving rights,” declared Aidos Sarym.

The Majilis member emphasized the issue of security and the priority of human life, calling for putting people’s safety above formal procedures.

“Our task is to pass laws and thereby protect the rights of our fellow citizens. And the highest and inalienable rights of citizens, according to the new Constitution, are the right to life, personal safety, and the preservation of one’s health! Our task is not to justify those who break the law, but to prevent new crimes and tragedies. When passing the amnesty law, discussing each article, we must answer one simple question: will this make the lives of our people safer? If the answer is ‘no,’ then such a decision absolutely cannot be made. I am confident that the absolute majority of our voters share this opinion,” the deputy noted.

Recall that the tragedy on Al-Farabi Avenue, which occurred on the night of March 21st, claimed the lives of the driver of a Mercedes and two of his passengers. A Zeekr car drove into the oncoming lane at the intersection with Mendikulova Street and collided with the Mercedes. The driver of the Zeekr survived. The accident caused widespread outrage, with the public demanding transparency and fair punishment.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that criminal cases had been initiated and investigations had begun. This was followed by personnel decisions – the Deputy Head of the Almaty City Police Department, as well as the heads of the Administrative Police and Public Safety departments, were relieved of their posts.

By Linara SAKTAGANOVA
Astana
Photo: Almaty PD

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