Mongolia president introduces capital punishment moratorium

BEIJING, January 14 (Itar-Tass) -- Mongolian President Tsakhia
Elbegdorj stated in the parliament about the introduction of the capital
punishment moratorium in the country.
"Most countries cancelled death penalty, and we should follow the
suit," the Mongolian president said, putting it clear that capital
punishment should be officially cancelled following the moratorium.
The moratorium came into effect as of Thursday. Elbegdorj intends to
cancel the earlier pronounced capital punishment sentences to all convicts
and replace execution with 30 years of imprisonment.
The Mongolian parliament should approve these presidential decisions.
Most deputies belong to the opposition, who were keeping complete silence
during Elbegdorj's statement on the capital punishment moratorium. The
observers do not rule out that the opposition will do its best to block
the presidential initiative and preserve capital punishment in Mongolia.
Elbegdorj occupies the presidential post since May 2009. For the past
period of time he approved capital punishment just for three convicts. The
convicts are executed through shooting in Mongolia. The number of executed
convicts is kept secret. According to the international human rights
organization Amnesty International, at least five people were executed in
Mongolia in 2008; nine convicts are awaiting capital punishment now.
-0-baz/ast