Death_Penalty_2005_nowy.qxd 2005-09-08 17:00 Page 22 THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE OSCE AREA Pardon or commutation All individuals sentenced to death have the right to appeal for commutation of the sentence to life imprisonment or 25 years’ imprisonment.56 Appeals are initially considered by the Clemency Commission. The cases of all individuals sentenced to death are considered regardless of whether the convicted individual submits an appeal for clemency.57 Relatives Relatives are not informed in advance of the date of execution, the body is not returned, and the location of the place of burial is not disclosed to the relatives until at least two years after the burial has taken place.58 56 57 58 Article 49(3) of the Criminal Code, Article 31(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, and Article 166(1) of the Criminal Executive Code. Presidential Decree No. 2975 “On provisions for pardoning procedure by the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, 7 May 1996. Article 167, Criminal Executive Code. 22