Kazakhstan to toughen punishments for fatal road accidents

Drivers may be arrested for up to 20 years for fatal road accidents, the chairman of the Committee of the Administrative Police of Kazakhstan's Internal Affairs Ministry, Igor Lepekha said at a briefing held at Central Communications Service under the President of Kazakhstan, trend.az reports.

"The acts that result in the death will be punished by imprisonment for a term from seven to 20 years, with revocation of the right to hold specific post. Driving of the motor vehicle while intoxicated will not be an administrative violation any more, but a criminal misconduct," Igor Lepekha said.

Earlier, during the government's broadened meeting, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev demanded to increase the liability of those responsible for road accidents.

"We need to tighten the requirements. A driver, who sat behind the wheel drunk, is a criminal. He should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, which we have. Or it is necessary to strengthen this law," Kazakh President said.