Three residents of the Almaty region have been found guilty of kidnapping a 19-year-old female resident of the Zhambyl region with the aim of forcing her into marriage. The court sentenced each of the convicted men to 3 years in prison.
WHAT HAPPENED
According to the prosecutor's office of the Zhambyl region, the incident occurred in October 2025 in the city of Taraz. Three residents of the Almaty region kidnapped the girl to force her into marriage.
After receiving information about the incident, the police department of the Aulie-Ata district of the city of Taraz began a pre-trial investigation under paragraphs 1 and 4 of part 2 of article 125-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Coercion into marriage").
WHAT THE INVESTIGATION ESTABLISHED
During the investigation, it was established that the victim had been in a close relationship with the organiser of the kidnapping for more than 5 years, but had repeatedly refused to marry him.
Despite these refusals, the man organised the kidnapping of the girl and involved his acquaintances in committing the crime. According to the case materials, the three participants acted as a group by prior conspiracy and used violence.
WHAT DECISION THE COURT MADE
The trial concluded with the delivery of a guilty verdict. Court No. 2 of the city of Taraz on 4 May 2026 found three defendants guilty of kidnapping a person with the aim of forcing them into marriage.
Applying article 63 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Suspended sentence"), each of the convicted men was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE'S POSITION
The prosecutor's office reminded that kidnapping a person with the aim of forcing them into marriage is a criminally punishable act, regardless of motives or existing traditions.
The department emphasised that liability for such actions is provided for in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
