Emotional Releases in East Kazakhstan as Amnesty Grants Freedom

A 72-year-old Kazakhstani man burst into tears in the courtroom upon his release. He was among those freed in the East Kazakhstan region under an amnesty, having been convicted of a drug-related crime. The pensioner had served seven months in a penal colony, with his release originally scheduled for 2026. His joy was so profound that he couldn't hold back his tears upon hearing the news of his freedom in the courtroom.

"I haven't seen him for a long time, and now he's here, with me! It's a miracle!" shared the amnestied man's sister, embracing her brother tightly.

In the East Kazakhstan region, 18 individuals have already gained freedom thanks to a large-scale amnesty granted in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Constitution. A total of 405 convicted individuals in the region are eligible for the amnesty; 44 will be fully released, while 361 will have their sentences reduced. So far, 234 cases have been submitted to the courts, with 31 already reviewed.

Among those recently freed is a 39-year-old man who spent his recent birthdays behind bars for failing to pay child support. He's set to be released under the amnesty just before his next birthday.

"To celebrate this day at liberty, surrounded by loved ones – it's a feeling that can neither be bought nor described with words. Now, I will definitely get a job and diligently pay alimony. My children need to know that their father has changed and is ready to take responsibility for their upbringing and support," the man confessed.

The Department of the Penal System (DUIS) for the East Kazakhstan region emphasized that amnesty is not merely a reduction of a sentence; it's a new chance, the beginning of a new life, and a symbol of hope for a better future.

"Amnesty is not just a legal procedure. It's an act of humanism on the part of the state, giving people who stumbled in the past a real chance for correction. We see how people change, how they value this second chance. A birthday spent free, after long years of deprivation of liberty, is priceless. It is not only their personal happiness but also a step towards strengthening society, where everyone has the right to correction and a new life," stated Tleubergen Konekbayev, Deputy Head of the DUIS for the East Kazakhstan region and Justice Colonel.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/duis-vko/press/news/details/1041363?lang=kk