Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan: Environmental Advocate Freed

Human Rights Watch — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:43:11 -0800

(New York) – Turkmenistan’s release of the environmental activist Andrei Zatoka from prison on November 6, 2009, is a welcome development, but reports that the authorities effectively forced him to leave the country and may have confiscated his apartment, having already brought false charges against him, are troubling, Human Rights Watch said today.

Turkmenistan: Free Environmental Activist

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:54:34 -0700

(New York) - Turkmenistan should immediately release a well known environmental and civil society activist who was sentenced to five years in prison today on bogus charges, Human Rights Watch said. The trial of the activist, Andrei Zatoka, violated international fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said.

Uzbekistan: a Textbook Example of Failed EU Policy

Veronika Szente Goldston — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:34:04 -0700

In a move that defies logic, EU foreign ministers this week scrapped the EU's one remaining sanction against Uzbekistan - a purely symbolic embargo on arms sales - despite Tashkent's defiance of the human-rights criteria the EU had set for its lifting.

Statement from Andrei Zatoka

Andrei Zatoka — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:39:53 -0700

I request that this letter be given to the General Prosecutor of Turkmenistan, the Embassy of the Russian Federation of Turkmenistan and the representative of the OSCE in the instance of my arrest, disappearance or unfortunate circumstance.

Turkmenistan: Free Detained Activist

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:20:38 -0700

(Moscow) - Turkmen authorities should immediately release an activist arrested on what appears to be politically motivated grounds, Human Rights Watch said today. Andrei Zatoka, a well known environmental activist, was detained on October 20, 2009, in Dashoguz, Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan: Allow Access, Freedom for Civil Society

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:56:04 -0700

Human Rights Watch joined the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and 13 other groups in issuing a statement today calling on governments and companies that have recently gained access to Turkmenistan to use their connection to improve the lives of the country's more than 5 million people.

A CALL FOR ACCESS TO TURKMENISTAN

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:47:02 -0700

On September 24 2007, Turkmenistan's president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, gave a speech at Columbia University in New York City. During a round of questions after his speech, he was asked why foreign non-governmental organisations are not allowed access to the country.

Turkmenistan: Reverse Student Travel Ban

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:27:26 -0700

(New York) - Turkmen authorities should immediately revoke a new travel ban imposed on students bound for foreign private universities, Human Rights Watch said today. Turkmenistan should also end new, burdensome requirements for studying abroad that violate the rights to freedom of movement and to education, Human Rights Watch said.

Reaching out to Turkmenistan – the wrong way

Veronika Szente Goldston, Europe and Central Asia advocacy director — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:34:42 -0700

The EU has just sent a clear message to Turkmenistan: human rights do not feature in our relationship.

Letter to Bulgarian Authorities Regarding Extradition to Turkmenistan

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:04:07 -0700

Human Rights Watch and Bulgarian Helsinki Committee are writing to you as a matter of urgency to ask that Bulgaria decline a request made by the government of Turkmenistan for the extradition of Kakajan Ataev, a citizen of the Russian Federation.