Interior Ministry responds to proposal to reduce license suspension period for drunk driving

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry has responded to a proposal to reduce the period of driver’s license suspension for driving under the influence. Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepeha voiced the ministry’s position at a government briefing.

“You know the Interior Ministry’s position. We believe there is no need to review it. If the situation were improving sharply, then something could be discussed,” Lepeha said.

The deputy minister cited statistics on drunk drivers. In 2023, police detected 22,000 such cases; in 2024, 24,700; and in 2025, 25,300. Since the beginning of 2026, 17,100 drunk drivers have been detained.

“We are saying that a very strict measure is in force, but it does not stop people — they still get behind the wheel. If the punishment is softened, these figures will probably become even higher,” he said.

According to Igor Lepeha, last year, drunk drivers caused 670 road accidents in which 56 people died.

“Let us ask the relatives of people who died because of drunk drivers how they would feel about an amnesty or a softer punishment. Our position remains unchanged: we will definitely not raise the issue of reducing the period of license suspension,” the deputy minister emphasized.

Earlier, Mazhilis deputy Nikolai Arsyutin proposed reviewing the seven-year license suspension period for drunk driving. He called this sanction one of the strictest, saying that it does not take into account whether an accident occurred, the severity of the consequences or the degree of intoxication.
Under Article 608 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, depending on the circumstances, the period of driver’s license suspension for driving under the influence can range from seven to nine years.