The return of the death penalty within the framework of national legislation could lead to Kyrgyzstan being among the countries that violate their international obligations, which contradicts the constitutional recognition of international law and the principle of good faith in the execution of treaties.
As a rule of law state, Kyrgyzstan will continue to fulfill all international obligations it has undertaken. At the same time, within the framework of these obligations, work on legislative changes regarding the tightening of penalties for crimes against women and children will continue, as stated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan's statement (the full text of the statement is provided below).
Recent cases of murders of women and children with aggravating circumstances have shocked society. The President of the country, concerned about the rise in the brutality of crimes, took control of the investigation into the murder of a 17-year-old girl from Karakol and instructed the relevant authorities to develop proposals for legislative changes to introduce the death penalty for the rape of children and murders related to rape.
From October 13 to 28, 2025, public discussions were held on the draft Laws of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Amendments to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic" and "On the Repeal of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on Accession to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty." As a result of the discussions, the majority of participants expressed opposition to the return of the death penalty.
On December 2, 2025, President S. Japarov sent the draft Law on Amendments to the Constitution to the Constitutional Court for an official opinion.
On December 10, 2025, the Constitutional Court, considering the aggregate of constitutional and international arguments, concluded that the restoration of the death penalty through constitutional amendments does not comply with the Constitution and is inadmissible. Thus, the draft Law cannot be put to a referendum, and all procedures related to its implementation must be terminated from the moment the conclusion of the Constitutional Court comes into force.
It should be emphasized that the Second Optional Protocol, of which Kyrgyzstan is a participant, aims at the complete abolition of the death penalty and does not provide for the possibility of its denunciation. This means that by joining the Protocol, the state commits to permanently renounce the introduction of the death penalty.
The introduction of the death penalty under such conditions would place Kyrgyzstan in a position of a state that violates its international obligations, which is incompatible with the recognition of international law and the principle of good faith in the execution of international treaties.
Kyrgyzstan, as a rule of law state, will continue to fulfill its international obligations while simultaneously continuing work on legislative changes concerning the tightening of penalties for crimes against women and children.
From October 13 to 28, 2025, public discussions were held on the draft Laws of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Amendments to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic" and "On the Repeal of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on Accession to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty." As a result of the discussions, the majority of participants expressed opposition to the return of the death penalty.
On December 2, 2025, President S. Japarov sent the draft Law on Amendments to the Constitution to the Constitutional Court for an official opinion.
On December 10, 2025, the Constitutional Court, considering the aggregate of constitutional and international arguments, concluded that the restoration of the death penalty through constitutional amendments does not comply with the Constitution and is inadmissible. Thus, the draft Law cannot be put to a referendum, and all procedures related to its implementation must be terminated from the moment the conclusion of the Constitutional Court comes into force.
It should be emphasized that the Second Optional Protocol, of which Kyrgyzstan is a participant, aims at the complete abolition of the death penalty and does not provide for the possibility of its denunciation. This means that by joining the Protocol, the state commits to permanently renounce the introduction of the death penalty.
The introduction of the death penalty under such conditions would place Kyrgyzstan in a position of a state that violates its international obligations, which is incompatible with the recognition of international law and the principle of good faith in the execution of international treaties.
Kyrgyzstan, as a rule of law state, will continue to fulfill its international obligations while simultaneously continuing work on legislative changes concerning the tightening of penalties for crimes against women and children.
