EU WELCOMES UZBEKISTAN'S ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY

the European Union praised Uzbekistan for abolishing the death penalty on Jan 1, saying it hoped the decision would prompt other countries in the region to do the same, the EU's Slovenian presidency said in a statement. The EU "congratulates" Uzbekistan for taking the "important decision" and urges the government to "fully implement it and carry out further reforms of the judicial system," said the statement, posted on the presidency's Web site.
Uzbekistan switched the death penalty to life imprisonment, which will apply only to those convicted of terrorism and premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances, according to Uzbekistan's state news agency UzA.