Kyrgyzstan Adds Digital Evidence to Criminal Law as Jogorku Kenesh Passes Amendments

Kyrgyzstan's parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, on October 28 adopted in second and third readings a bill introducing digital evidence into the country's criminal legislation. According to the parliament's press service, the amendments affect the Criminal Code, the Code on Offenses and the Criminal Procedure Code.

Suyunbek Omurzakov, chair of the committee on judicial and legal affairs, law and order, crime fighting and anti-corruption, said the document aims to give the institution of digital evidence a legal basis. The amendments also unify digital technology terminology in line with the provisions of Kyrgyzstan's Digital Code.

Deputy Saltanat Amanova called for stronger efforts against crimes in the digital environment and raised the problem of the spread of pornographic material and other prohibited content. Deputy Ulanbek Zhaanbayev supported the bill, saying that the growing number of crimes using digital technology requires further improvement of legislation. Lawmakers also passed a separate bill amending the Criminal Procedure Code in third reading. Passing the third reading does not yet mean the new norms take effect.