In Kyrgyzstan, large group of lawmakers petitions president for referendum on reintroducing death penalty

A group of lawmakers in Kyrgyzstan has appealed to the president to hold a referendum on amending the constitution to allow for the death penalty for people found guilty of raping minors. Around two-thirds of MPs have registered their backing for the proposed amendment, which was subjected to a round of public consultations last year and is now poised to be considered by lawmakers, making its adoption a strong possibility. Dastan Bekeshev, an independent MP, said that he is confident the measure will be supported in a referendum if one is held. He expressed concern over the wisdom of reintroducing the death penalty within such a deeply flawed justice system[.] [...] This idea may be dashed by Kyrgyzstan’s international commitments, though. Nazgul Turdubekova, a lawyer and the head of a Bishkek-based children’s rights group, told Eurasianet that Kyrgyzstan did not have the right to introduce the death penalty as it is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Turdubekova echoed Bekeshev’s concerns about the prospects for accused people getting a fair trial. [...] Kyrgyzstan abolished the death penalty in 2007, nine years after imposing a moratorium. There have been intermittent calls for its return in the years since.
Read the full article here: Eurasianet