Still from a promotional video made in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has returned to the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) with objections a bill decriminalizing polygamy. The president’s press service reported the decision.
The president’s objections were prepared based on the conclusions of the ombudsman, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Agency for Religious and Interethnic Affairs, the National Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Justice, and the Office of the Constitutional Court.
The explanation notes that retaining criminal liability for bigamy and polygamy is in line with Kyrgyzstan’s international commitments—specifically, the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It also reflects the country’s adherence to the principles of gender equality and the rule of law. According to government agencies, this protects women and children from legal and social inequality and strengthens the institution of the family, as established by the country’s constitution.
The bill was introduced by two members of parliament, Nurlanbek Azygaliev and Meder Sakkaraev. They proposed repealing Article 176 of the Criminal Code, which provides penalties for bigamy or polygamy: 100 to 300 hours of community service, one to three years of correctional labor, or a fine of 500 to 1,000 accounting units (50,000 to 100,000 soms, equivalent to $572–$1,144).
The Jogorku Kenesh passed the bill on June 25, 2025, in all three readings without debate. Notably, of the 16 female members of parliament present at the session, 14 supported the bill, while the remaining two did not take part in the vote.
