President Sadyr Japarov has signed amendments to legislative acts on road safety.
The amendments were passed by the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) on April 15, 2026, toughening penalties for drunk driving.
The new legislation introduces criminal liability for drivers caught for repeated drunk driving.
Drunk driving committed within a year after a first such offence will be punished by a fine of up to 150,000 soms (about $1,700) or imprisonment for up to one year.
Drivers that cause traffic accidents under the influence of alcohol or drugs and resulting in serious bodily harm will face five to eight years in prison.
If the consequences for victims are particularly severe, including death, the sentence will be eight to ten years, along with a driving ban for up to 12 years.
According to the new law, drunk drivers who cause accidents resulting in death or injury will not be eligible for reconciliation or probation. They will be sentenced to imprisonment, and after serving their prison term, their driving license will be revoked.
The new legislation follows concerning road safety data. In 2025, Kyrgyzstan recorded 8,456 traffic accidents, resulting in 900 deaths and 12,169 injuries. Over the past decade, more than 75,000 accidents have claimed over 9,000 lives.
