Death_Penalty_2005_nowy.qxd 2005-09-08 17:00 Page 41 UZBEKISTAN 3.9 UZBEKISTAN RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS International Instruments Ratification Status138 ICCPR R Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR – CRC R Status: retentionist LEGAL FRAMEWORK The death penalty is envisaged for two crimes:139 murder with aggravating circumstances and terrorism.140 Until August 1998, the death penalty had been envisaged for 13 crimes. The death penalty was abolished for five crimes in 1998, for four crimes in 2001, and for two more crimes in 2003. On 28 January 2005, President Islam Karimov raised the issue of the abolition of the death penalty at a joint session of both chambers of parliament: “We are not talking about a moratorium on the death penalty as it is done in some countries, where a convict has to wait for years for the execution of the sentence, but [we are talking about] its complete abolition.”141 On 1 August 2005, President Karimov signed a decree on the abolition of the death penalty as of 1 January 2008.142 The decree envisages that, from 1 January 2008, the death penalty shall be abolished in Uzbekistan as a type of criminal 138 139 140 141 142 R = ratified, S = signed, a dash (-) indicates that the participating State has neither signed nor ratified the relevant instrument. Article 51 of the Criminal Code, 22 September 1994, with further amendments as of 29 September 2004. Articles 97 (2) and 155 (3) of the Criminal Code. Note Verbale from the Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, E/CN.4/2005/G/21, 21 March 2005, Paragraph 19.3. Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On abolition of the death penalty in the Republic of Uzbekistan”, 1 August 2005. 41