sentences:  President Nazarbayev pardoned eight convicts in 1999, four in 2000 and 2001, and two in 2002.Death sentences were commuted to prison terms for 23 convicts in 1999, 18 in 2000, 14 in 2001, 5 in 2002, and 3 in 2003.First-degree murder is a capital punishment, but only 5% of convicted murderers are put to death.