Kazakhstan plans stricter chemical castration for child sex offenders
New proposal mandates chemical castration six months before release to curb post-prison reoffending among convicted pedophiles
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan is moving to tighten the use of chemical castration for individuals convicted of sexual crimes against children, mandating the procedure shortly before release to reduce the risk of repeat offenses.
According to The Times of Central Asia, the Ministry of Health has published draft amendments on the Open NPA platform that would require convicted offenders to undergo a psychiatric evaluation one year prior to their release. If found at high risk of reoffending, chemical castration would be administered six months before the end of their sentence.
The measure builds on Article 91 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code, which already allows courts to impose chemical castration on adults convicted of sexual violence against minors — provided they have been clinically diagnosed with a sexual preference disorder.
The procedure involves administering antiandrogenic drugs to suppress testosterone levels and reduce sexual drive.
The ministry argues that performing the procedure just before release would help prevent assaults during the high-risk post-release period. Currently, chemical castration can only be ordered by a court, often long before the convict’s return to society.
The government is also considering extending post-release surveillance. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has proposed lifetime administrative supervision for convicted pedophiles — a significant escalation from the current eight-year limit.
Measures under this plan include restricting access to schools, imposing curfews, and barring nighttime movement. Each case would be reassessed every six months based on the risk of recidivism.
“We can also restrict leaving the house at night,” said Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Lepekha, who confirmed the ministry’s proposal to significantly extend surveillance periods.
Last year parliamentarian Yelnur Beisenbayev pushed for even harsher penalties, advocating for surgical castration of pedophiles. “We included this in the draft law, but the government did not support it, citing privacy violations,” he said, calling the rejection “spineless.” Beisenbayev argued that surgical castration could serve as both a deterrent and a means to protect children from future attacks.
If enacted, the proposed reforms would mark one of Central Asia’s most aggressive legal frameworks for managing sex crimes against minors — combining chemical intervention with expanded surveillance in a bid to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety.
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