Digitalizing Kazakhstan’s Courts: Keeping Up with the Times

Abstract

The global digitalization trend has embraced all spheres of life, including the justice system, and Kazakhstan is no exception. Back at the Sixth Judiciary Convention in 2013, the first president of Kazakhstan, Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, ordered the broad introduction of new information technologies in courts. This was reflected in many strategic documents, including the 100 Concrete Steps National Plan and the state’s Digital Kazakhstan program. The experience of using new technologies in the Republic’s courts earned positive reviews both within the country and abroad. Thanks to the digita lization of its courts, Doing Business ranked Kazakhstan 4th among 190 countries for contract enforcement and 2nd for judicial quality. This result has been achieved through the systematic development of a number of information systems and services over the past five years. These include the Törelik system, the Internet portal of the judicial authorities, the Court Office service, electronic mailing systems and others. These have simplified the justice system significantly, making it mobile, transparent and easy to understand. Electronic justice saves citizens both money and time. Each of these steps deserves individual mention. News