Abolishing the Death Penalty. An Alternative Punishment is Proposed for the Rape and Murder of Children and Women

Евгения Комарова • 19.02.2026, 12:04 • Local news

A draft law has been developed in the presidential administration, which has been published for discussion. The draft law amends the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan.

The initiators emphasize that according to the Constitution and international norms, the right to life is fundamental and protected by law. Taking a person's life is only possible in exceptional cases.

In Kyrgyzstan, there is growing concern regarding the increase in serious crimes against women and children, including rapes and murders, which raises alarm both in society and in the government.

Statistical data indicate the need for enhanced protection of children and women from such crimes. However, official figures do not reflect the real situation, as many cases of violence remain unregistered. Violence against women and children continues to rise, and most crimes in this category remain hidden.

With recent media reports of violence, the murders of women and the rapes of children have become commonplace, and society no longer reacts as sharply, which raises significant concern. The time has come for a clear definition of the boundaries beyond which individuals who commit violence against women and children should be excluded from society and subjected to the most severe punishments, the developers state.

Given the growing trend of serious crimes that cause irreparable harm to the lives of children and their families, the draft law proposes amendments to the Criminal Code establishing punishment in the form of life imprisonment with confiscation of property for the following crimes:

murder related to rape or violent satisfaction of sexual desire (paragraph 8 of part 2 of article 122);
rape committed against a child under 14 years old or a person with a disability (part 4 of article 154).

Additionally, it is proposed to exclude the statute of limitations for the following types of murder:

of two or more persons;
of a woman in a state of pregnancy;
of a person in a helpless state or a child;
of a person or their close relatives for performing official duties;
murders committed out of hooligan motives;
murders dangerous to the lives of many;
murders committed with particular cruelty;
murders related to kidnapping or hostage-taking;
murders associated with robbery or extortion;
murders on the grounds of racial or national hatred;
murders with mercenary intentions;
murders for the purpose of obtaining the victim's organs;
murders committed to conceal another crime;
murders committed by a group of persons;
murders committed by prior conspiracy;
murders committed by an organized group;
murders committed as part of a criminal community;
murders related to rape or violent satisfaction of sexual desire.

We remind you that earlier President Sadyr Japarov expressed a desire to reinstate the death penalty for particularly serious crimes against women and children. This initiative arose after the murder of 17-year-old Aysulu Mukasheva, who was kidnapped and raped on September 27 in the Issyk-Kul region, causing a wide public outcry. However, in mid-October, a number of international human rights organizations condemned this proposal, emphasizing that restoring the death penalty violates the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan and the country's international obligations, and would not lead to a reduction in violence. Later, the Constitutional Court declared the return of the death penalty in the country inadmissible.

The illustration on the main page is for example only.

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