Kazakhstan plans tougher penalties for illegal excavation of antiquities
Kazakhstan is looking to tighten penalties for illegal excavation of antiquities and establish clear rules in the field of archaeological research, Kazinform News Agency cites finprom.kz.

The corresponding draft resolution is already under consideration in the lower chamber of the country’s parliament.
As part of the country’s harsher penalties for illegal excavation, first-time offenders can be fined up to 11.8 million tenge and repeat offenders or offenders using heavy vehicles - 23.6 million tenge, while crime groups may face up to 12 years in jail.
The data provided by the Legal Statistics Committee of Kazakhstan’s General Prosecutor’s Office indicate a 4fold decrease to seven in 2024 in the number of offences related to looting and demolishing historic monuments.
14 administrative offences relating to monuments’ protection were reported over the past year, down from 21 in 2023.
The country’s law on protection and use of historic and cultural heritage sites requires that all artifacts discovered are returned to state museums, as illegal use and trade are prosecuted.
The amended law on culture provides for a state monopoly over antique exhibitions, prohibiting private museums with historically important collections.
The export of archaeological findings is possible as long as it’s not prohibited by the authorized authorities.
According to Worldpopulationreview.com, Kazakhstan was placed 63rd in the list of countries with the most UNESCO world heritage sites, topped by Italy, China and Germany.
As reported earlier, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan's environmentalists seek to include Markhur in the UNESCO List.