Mine ban policy overview

Policy

The Republic of Kazakhstan has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. It has expressed support for the Treaty’s humanitarian objectives, but has previously cited the perceived need for antipersonnel mines to protect its border and the perceived need for alternatives as the reasons it has not yet joined.[1] In May 2011, Kazakhstan said that “Taking into account its close proximity to unstable regions and existing threat of international terrorism, Kazakhstan, while addressing the issues related to landmines, proceeds from the necessity to reconcile the interests of national security and economic potential of the State and humanitarian aspects as well.”[2]

In May 2011, Kazakhstan stated that it “does not acquire, produce or export antipersonnel mines and has no such plans for the future.”[3] It has had a moratorium of unlimited duration on export and transit of mines in place since 1997.[4]

The size of Kazakhstan’s antipersonnel mine stockpile is not known, but a 1998 media report estimated that the government had between 800,000 and one million antipersonnel mines.[5] Officials have said that many of the mines have expired, that some have been destroyed in recent years, and that a plan for further destruction is in place.[6]

Government officials have at times acknowledged the use of mines in border areas and at other times denied the existence of minefields in Kazakhstan.[7]

Kazakhstan joined the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) on 8 July 2009, but is not party to CCW Amended Protocol II on landmines or CCW Protocol V on explosive remnants of war.