2. Partly Abolitionist States In Latvia, the process of ratifying Protocol No. 13 to the ECHR, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances, is under way. Latvia signed Protocol No. 13 on 3 May 2002. On 19 May 2008, the Government of Latvia endorsed a draft law on the ratification of the Protocol, and parliamentary approval is being sought. Along with the draft law, corresponding amendments to the relevant legislation, i.e., criminal law and other related acts, were being prepared.19 On 6 December 2007, the president of Kazakhstan pardoned 31 men sentenced to death who had been subject to the moratorium on the death penalty decreed in December 2003.20 Their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. No death sentences have been handed down in Kazakhstan since then. There is a commission headed by the minister of justice that examines issues related to the abolition of the death penalty by analysing legislation and collecting relevant information. The commission consists of governmental and non-governmental actors.21 A draft law on amendments to relevant legislative acts aimed at bringing current legislation into line with the 2007 constitutional amendments is being developed by the Justice Ministry. The draft law will later be introduced to the parliament.22 19  Response of the Permanent Representation of Latvia to the OSCE to ODIHR’s questionnaire on the death penalty, 7 July 2008. 20  Response of Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry to ODIHR’s questionnaire on the death penalty, 30 July 2008. The names of these men are on file with ODIHR. 21  Ibid. 22  Response of the OSCE Centre in Astana to ODIHR’s questionnaire on the death penalty, 23 July 2008. 4