Social survey: public attitudes in Kazakhstan on the death penalty for terrorist offences

In Kazakhstan, the death penalty is currently available for various offences under two categories: ‘terrorist offences resulting in death’ and ‘especially grave crimes committed in wartime’. One reason given for maintaining the death penalty was public opinion, so this survey was commissioned to identify the reality of feeling in Kazakhstan about this issue.

This survey polled public opinion about the use of the death penalty for terrorist offences resulting in death and for especially grave crimes committed in wartime. It was completed in May 2014, when the Kazakh Majlis (Parliament) was considering revisions to the country’s Criminal Codes, including the use of the death penalty. 

Findings included the following.

• More than a third of respondents – 37.2% – didn’t know that there is currently a moratorium on the application of the death penalty in Kazakhstan (since 2004).
• 40.7% of respondents supported the moratorium, but also supported retaining the death penalty in the Criminal Code as an exceptional measure.
• 31.2% supported cancelling the moratorium and returning to using the death penalty.

See also a public opinion survey carried out by PRI partner, Nota Bene, in Tajikistan in 2013.