"Citizens are increasingly aware of the need to humanize the criminal justice system. This is a major precondition for the democratization of Uzbekistan," the center said.

The center told Interfax on Monday that citizens were asked about their attitude to a presidential ordinance early this year that abolished the death penalty and gave the courts the right to sanction arrests.

The center polled city dwellers, villagers, people of various age and gender nationwide.

Some 92.8% of them supported the abolition of the death penalty.

"In the opinion of the respondents, compliance with habeas corpus, which gives the courts, rather than prosecutors, the right to sanction arrests, has contributed to human rights," the center said.

The presidential ordinance was supported by 90.3% of the respondents.