THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE OSCE AREA indefinitely and to commute the sentences of persons on death row.73 According to unofficial sources, there are at least 160 persons on death row in Kyrgyzstan.74 During the Human Rights Committee's consideration of Kyrgyzstan's initial report in July 2000, the Kyrgyz Delegation referred to a growing trend within Kyrgyz society in favour of abolishing the death penalty.75 The National Human Rights Programme provides for the development of a draft law on the abolition of the death penalty by 2006. The government treats information on the number and identity of persons subject to the moratorium as confidential. Persons subjected to the moratorium are currently held in pre-trial detention facilities, although the government treats information about the place and conditions of detention of persons subject to the moratorium as confidential. In January 2004, the Kyrgyz Ombudsman, Tusunbai Bakiruulu, described the conditions of detention as inhumane and called upon the authorities to build special facilities meeting international standards for people subjected to the moratorium.76 The presidential decree extending the moratorium recommends the allocation of additional resources to improve the condition of persons sentenced to death. Method of execution Shooting77 STATISTICS Death sentences According to official statistics, 31 persons were sentenced to death during the period from 30 June 2003 to 30 June 2004. All were sentenced to death for murder. No information on their identities was provided. Executions None 73 74 75 76 77 Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee, CCPR/CO/69/KGZ, 24 July 2000, Paragraph 8. “Kyrgyz Rights Ombudsman asks law enforcement agencies not to extradite suspects to deathpenalty countries”, Associated Press, 14 June 2004. Summary Record, CCPR/C/SR.1841, 1 February 2002. “Kyrgyz human rights ombudsman asking judges not to pass death penalty sentences”, Associated Press, 30 January 2004. Article 155(2) of the Criminal Executive Code, 13 December 1999. This article also provides that executions should not be carried out in public. 26