Ms Aziza Abdirasulova, a prominent Kyrgyz human rights defender has been awarded on 21 January the 2026 Council of Europe Raoul Wallenberg prize in recognition of her efforts to protect fundamental rights with a particular focus on prisoners’ rights, freedom from torture, and the right to peaceful assembly.
In her acceptance speech at the award ceremony on 21 January in Strasbourg, she voiced concerns about recent developments in Kyrgyzstan, including on attempts to reinstate the death penalty.
She first noted that “thanks to the many years of effort by the human rights community in Kyrgyzstan, it was possible to achieve the abolition of the death penalty and its complete removal from the legislation”. Indeed, Kyrgyzstan stopped using capital punishment in 1998 and prohibited its use in law in 2010 when it ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
Ms Abdirasulova then highlighted concerns over the recent initiative to reinstate capital punishment in Kyrgyzstan: “Of particular and profound concern is the fact that the issue of reinstating the death penalty is once again being raised. Despite a recent decision of the Constitutional Court stating that its return is impossible, this issue remains open. We must state unequivocally: no to the return of the death penalty. This measure cannot and must not be reinstated”.
The General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ms Gala Veldhoen, welcomed on 11 December 2025 the decision of the Constitutional Court declaring the bid to reintroduce the death penalty “inadmissible and legally impossible”.
To know more about the situation of the death penalty in Kyrgyzstan :
- Kyrgyz Republic: ICJ welcomes Constitutional Court ruling blocking reintroduction of the death penalty | ICJ
- Kyrgyzstan: Reintroduction of death penalty would violate international law, Türk warns | OHCHR
To know more on the Raoul Wallenberg Prize which is awarded every two years in order to reward extraordinary humanitarian achievements by a single individual, a group of individuals or an organisation : Human rights: Extraordinary people deserve an extraordinary prize – the Raoul Wallenberg Prize - Portal
Coordinator for the Abolition of the death penalty