A delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Ombudsman Yazdursun Gurbannazarova, is taking part in the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, organised by the French association ‘Together Against the Death Penalty’ with the support of the French Government, the EU, the Council of Europe and international partners. The event is taking place from 30 June to 2 July in Paris, according to the press office of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan.

The delegation also includes Hallygul Tuvakova, a representative of the Turkmen Institute of State, Law and Democracy, and M. Charyev, Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to France.

The forum’s programme includes opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions, round-table discussions, working meetings, bilateral negotiations and the presentation of international awards.

At the opening ceremony, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the heads of delegations and specifically thanked the representatives of Turkmenistan for their participation.

During the plenary sessions, Turkmenistan’s consistent policy on the protection of the right to life was noted. It was emphasised that the country had completely abolished the death penalty on 28 December 1999, following the introduction of a moratorium in January of that year, becoming the first country in Central Asia to take such a decision.