UN Urges Kyrgyzstan to Halt Plans to Bring Back Death Penalty

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has issued a strong warning to Kyrgyzstan over its proposal to reintroduce the death penalty, calling it a serious breach of international law.

Kyrgyzstan abolished capital punishment in 1998 and made the ban permanent in 2010 by ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), The Caspian Post informs via Kyrgyz media.

Following the tragic rape and murder of 17-year-old Aisuluu Mukasheva, the government is now proposing constitutional amendments to restore the death penalty for certain crimes, including rape and murder of children or adults.

The proposals may be put to a national referendum in the coming weeks, and if passed, will be forwarded to Parliament.

Kyrgyzstan also plans to withdraw from the UN Protocol that bans capital punishment - a move the UN says violates international obligations.

"The offences cited by the authorities as a reason for reintroducing the death penalty are clearly appalling, and justice must be duly served in respect of them. But there is no evidence that the death penalty plays a significant role in deterring serious crimes," Türk said.

The UN Human Rights Committee affirms that there is no legal pathway for states to reverse abolition under the ICCPR and its Protocol.

Countries that ratify without reservations - like Kyrgyzstan - cannot reintroduce or carry out the death penalty under any circumstances.

"I urge the Kyrgyz authorities to drop proposals to reintroduce the death penalty, and instead to focus their efforts on ensuring the effective protection of the law and adequate access to justice and redress. The answer must be a well-resourced, victim-centered approach to tackling violence, including sexual violence," said the UN Human Rights Chief.

President Sadyr Japarov personally proposed the change in response to public outrage over Mukasheva’s murder.

Public discussions on the draft constitutional amendments are already underway.