Kyrgyzstan Increases Punishment for Fire Safety Violations
Tougher Penalties for Violation of Fire Safety Rules in Kyrgyzstan
The government in Kyrgyzstan is cracking down on violations of fire safety rules with stricter penalties. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has initiated amendments to the Code of Offenses, which have been submitted for public discussion.
The move comes after a significant increase in the number of fires and the amount of material damage in the country since 2013. In 2022, the amount of damage reached over 3.2 billion soms.
One of the main reasons for the increase in fires has been the rise in the number of visits by fire and rescue teams to extinguish fires in forests, mountains, as well as fires related to the burning of garbage and dry grass in open areas. This has led to increased economic losses and decreased protection of settlements.
The government attributes the sharp change in the dynamics of fires and losses to decisions taken by legislative authorities. The transfer of state fire supervision functions to the State Inspectorate for Environmental and Technical Safety, and the reduction in administrative misdemeanors providing responsibility for non-compliance with fire safety requirements, have been highlighted as contributing factors.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the existing measures to influence citizens in the form of penalties in the field of fire safety are insufficient, as they do not have the necessary deterrent effect. This has led to a feeling of impunity and systematic violations by citizens and those responsible for ensuring safety at various locations.
As a result, the bill aims to supplement Article 143 of the Code of Offenses with stricter penalties for violating fire safety rules. For example, individuals who violate fire safety rules which result in a fire and threaten the life and health of citizens could face a fine of 130 calculated rates (13,000 soms), while officials and legal entities could face fines of 230 calculated rates (23,000 soms) and 750 calculated rates (75,000 soms) respectively.
The bill also introduces liability for violations of rules of technical operation of electrical equipment and carelessness in smoking, which are identified as the main causes of fires. Smoking tobacco products and the use of electronic smoking systems at fire and explosion hazardous objects could result in a fine of 100 calculated rates (10,000 soms) for individuals.
Furthermore, the bill looks to expand the list of articles under which the authorized state body in the field of fire safety can consider cases of offenses and impose penalties, which is currently limited to only Article 143.
Overall, the proposed amendments to the Code of Offenses signal the government’s commitment to addressing the issue of fire safety and reducing the number of preventable fires in Kyrgyzstan.
