Accessibility links

Breaking News

Uzbekistan Pressed For Death-Penalty Moratorium


3 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Amnesty International is calling on Uzbek President Islam Karimov to order an immediate halt to executions in Uzbekistan.

Karimov issued a decree on 2 August abolishing the death penalty. It does not take effect until January 2008.

Amnesty International, a London-based international human rights organization, says Uzbekistan should impose an immediate moratorium. In a statement issued today, the organization also says that Uzbek authorities should publish the names of people sentenced to death and awaiting execution.

Karimov has said the number of executions in his country has dropped below 60 per year. International rights groups say the number is about twice that.

Amnesty says that Uzbekistan should publish credible statistics on executions.

Fewer than half the countries of the world still invoke the death penalty.

See also:

Amnesty Report Accuses Uzbekistan Of Death Penalty Abuses

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG