Kyrgyzstan may halve the fine for covering one's face in public.
Kyrgyzstan may halve the fine for covering one's face in public.
Lawmakers have put a bill out for public discussion that would cut the penalty from 20,000 soms to 10,000 soms. For foreign visitors, a first offence would bring a formal warning instead of a fine; a repeat offence within a year would cost 10,000 soms.
The ban itself is not being lifted. Face coverings stay prohibited in government buildings and public places, with exceptions for medical reasons, work and cultural or sporting events.
The current fine dates from a 2025 law, and supporters of the change say 20,000 soms is more than many of the women fined can afford.
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