At an expanded meeting of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Legislation, the Judicial System, and Law Enforcement Agencies, chaired by Nurlan Beknazarov, the Laws "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Bring Them into Line with the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Improving the Legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Elections, the Prosecutor's Office, and Social Security" and "On Amendments and Additions to the Criminal, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal-Executive Codes of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Offenses to Bring Them into Line with the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Improving the Legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Elections and the Prosecutor's Office" were considered.
The discussion was attended by Senate deputies, representatives of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Central Election Commission, the Ministry of Justice, and other interested government agencies. During the meeting, provisions aimed at further improving electoral legislation, the activities of prosecutorial authorities, protecting investors' rights, humanizing the penal system, and aligning existing legislation with the provisions of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adopted in a national referendum in March of this year, were discussed.
For example, the Prosecutor General is granted the legal status of Investment Ombudsman, who will be charged with protecting the rights and legitimate interests of investors. At the regional level, the Investment Ombudsman will be represented by investment prosecutors—prosecutors of regions and equivalent prosecutors (in capitals and cities of national significance). Furthermore, prosecutorial authorities retain the authority to identify and return illegally acquired assets to the state.
A significant set of amendments concerns improving the treatment of convicted women in penal institutions, including women with a young child, as well as men raising a young child alone.
(Senate Press department, 74-72-27)
