DUSHANBE, May 17, Asia-Plus -- On Monday May 16, the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) chairman Shukurjon Zuhurov received a delegation of the International Commission Against Death Penalty (ICDP), led by Ms. Ruth Dreifuss, Member of the ICDP and former President of Switzerland.

Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says Zuhurov noted that Tajikistan has observed moratorium on death penalty since 2004 and a special commission was set up last year to study the preconditions of abolition.

Tajik parliament speaker stressed that Tajikistan hailed decisions of governments and parliaments of many countries to abolish the death penalty and was ready to join agreements.

Ms. Dreifuss, for her part, noted that the ICDP was ready to provide thorough assistance to Tajikistan regarding abolition of death penalties, the spokesman added.

In the meantime, ICDP reports Ms. Ruth Dreifuss, Member of the ICDP and former President of Switzerland, is undertaking a country mission to Dushanbe from May 16 to 18.  Ms Dreifuss will participate in an international conference on the situation of the death penalty in Central Asia.  The event is reportedly organized by the League of Women Lawyers and the Government of Tajikistan, with collaboration of Soros Foundation and the Government of Switzerland.  The conference is taking place today.  In addition, she will meet with several key representatives of the government and the local civil society in order to learn from their observations on the situation of the death penalty in Tajikistan, ICDP said.

The International Commission Against Death Penalty was formally established in Madrid, Spain in October 2010, ahead of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, commemorated on October 10.