The proposed amendments aim to revise Article 127-1 of the Code of Offenses, which currently addresses the responsibility for fully concealing one's face in public and state institutions. These changes are being discussed for public review by the Jogorku Kenesh.
Changes to Penalties and Rules for Foreign Citizens
The current penalty for violating the rule is set at 200 calculated units, equivalent to 20,000 soms. The authors of the bill suggest lowering this amount to 100 calculated units, or 10,000 soms.
- For foreign citizens, the project proposes issuing a warning for the first violation, replacing the immediate fine.
- Should the violation recur within one year following the warning, a fine of 10,000 soms will be imposed.
- Foreign citizens will remain obligated to temporarily uncover their faces for identity verification when required by law.
Rationale Behind the Proposed Changes
Developers of the legislation explained that the initiative is partly due to the influx of tourists from countries where face-covering clothing is part of religious or cultural traditions. According to the explanatory note, the current system might lead to negative impressions of the country if visitors are insufficiently aware of existing restrictions, especially when facing a 200 calculated unit fine.
Context
These proposed amendments concern the Code of Offenses and are being reviewed by the Jogorku Kenesh, affecting public conduct in state institutions and public areas across Kyrgyzstan.
