In the explanatory note to the draft law, it is noted that in order to implement the decrees of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic: No. 131 dated April 26, 2022, on urgent measures for the protection of the ecology of Issyk-Kul, and No. 172 dated July 10, 2023, on the introduction of a moratorium on commercial fishing in Issyk-Kul and Son-Kul, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has identified the fight against environmental crimes as one of the key areas of its activity, conducting systematic preventive work.
During the first eight months of 2025, 66 criminal cases related to illegal fishing and poaching concerning fish and aquatic animals were initiated. Of these:
- 52 cases were sent to court;
- 11 cases were terminated;
- one case was suspended;
- two cases are under investigation.
The highest number of such crimes was recorded in the Issyk-Kul region. In 2024, 60.9 thousand square meters of fishing nets were discovered, and at the beginning of 2025, 11.8 thousand square meters of illegally used nets were seized.
However, as a result of judicial proceedings, only fines were imposed on offenders, while imprisonment was not provided for. This led to some offenders returning to illegal fishing.
Analysis of criminal cases shows that the average damage to nature from each crime amounts to about 90,000 soms. According to part 1 of Article 310 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, the penalty for such a crime consists of a fine from 200 to 500 calculated indicators with possible deprivation of the right to hold certain positions for up to two years. This situation highlights the ineffectiveness of the current punitive measures.
According to the Criminal Code, this crime is classified as minor, and the main punishment consists of a fine, which is significantly less than the illegal income of poachers. This does not prevent recidivism.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasizes that the proposed changes in the draft law:
- will help in the full implementation of the presidential decrees aimed at protecting the environment;
- will increase legal responsibility for illegal fishing;
- will have a significant impact on the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.
Draft Law
Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic"
Article 1
Amend the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (newspaper "Erkin-Too" dated November 16, 2021, No. 122-133) as follows:
In Article 310:
1) the second paragraph of part one shall be stated as follows: "shall be punished by a fine of 500 to 1000 calculated indicators or by imprisonment for up to two years."
2) in the second paragraph of part two, after the words "causing significant damage," add the words "by negligence causing serious harm."
3) the second paragraph of part two shall be stated as follows: "shall be punished by a fine of 1000 to 2000 calculated indicators or by imprisonment for a term of two to five years with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to five years."
4) in the sixth paragraph of part three, the words "by negligence causing serious harm" shall be excluded.
a) in the seventh paragraph of part three, the words "shall be punished by a fine of 1000 to 2000 calculated indicators or by imprisonment for a term of two to five years" shall be replaced with the words "shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of five to seven years with confiscation of property."
b) part three shall be supplemented by an eighth paragraph of the following content:
"actions provided for in the articles are recognized as committed in a significant amount if the cost of damage exceeds 100 calculated indicators, in a large amount exceeds 1000 calculated indicators, in an especially large amount exceeds 10,000 calculated indicators at the time of the commission of the crime established by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic."
Article 2
This Law shall be officially published and shall enter into force ten days after the official publication.
President of the Kyrgyz Republic
