Kazakhstan officially abolishes death penalty 

Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN Kairat Umarov signed the second protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Kazinform said with reference to the Foreign Ministry of the country.

It should be noted that the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the decision to join the international protocol abolishing the death penalty during his speech at the political debates of the UNGA 75th anniversary session. According to him, the country is committed to upholding the fundamental right to life and human dignity. 

It is also said that the preparatory works to sign the second protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights began by the Foreign Ministry in December 2019 in line with the President’s task aimed at political reforms. 

The signing is another step towards humanizing criminal legislation in Kazakhstan. The country has not executed the death penalty since 2003 after the relevant moratorium was declared by the presidential decree.