Kazakh MP warns against pardoning mercenaries

Murat Abenov, a member of the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, has criticized an initiative to soften punishment for Kazakh citizens who fought in foreign wars as mercenaries. He described the proposal as a threat to national security.

«A mercenary is a professional killer. He does not act out of a sense of duty to his homeland, but leaves the country and may later serve hostile forces or terrorist groups that pose a threat to us,» the MP said.

What will happen when mercenaries return?

According to Abenov, individuals who fought abroad for financial gain may remain dangerous even after returning home. He noted that even regular soldiers can return from war with serious psychological trauma, not to mention those who voluntarily chose to fight for money.

«What kind of human qualities can we expect from them? After returning to Kazakhstan, they could pose a significant risk to our citizens,» he emphasized.

He also highlighted potential implications for Kazakhstan’s diplomatic relations. If mercenaries fought against countries that are strategic partners of Kazakhstan, pardoning them could damage bilateral ties.

Constitution

«If approved, this move may send a signal to our youth that they can go anywhere and kill for money,» he said, stressing that this is unacceptable.

To support his argument, Abenov referred to the Constitution, which recognizes human life as the highest value and strictly prohibits incitement to war. In this context, any mitigation of punishment for mercenaries would contradict the country’s fundamental law.