Turkmenistan’s first media law comes into effect
The first media law in the history of Turkmenistan came into effect on 4 January. In principle, it proclaims freedom of expression and bans censorship but it has so far done nothing to narrow the gulf between the official discourse and the reality of one of the world’s most closed and repressive countries.
Turkmenistan: UN Universal Periodic Review Submission
The Turkmen government imposes draconian restrictions on freedom of expression, say Human Rights Watch, Freedom Now and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights.
Damning UN report shows need for urgent action on human rights
The UN Human Rights Committee voiced concern about the fact that the government “systematically does not respect the right to freedom of expression,” “harasses and intimidates journalists and human rights defenders,” and “monitors the use of the internet and blocks access to some websites.”
Open letter to German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle
On the eve of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle’s visit to Turkmenistan, RSF and the Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights have sent him a joint letter about the state of freedom of expression in this Central Asian dictatorship.
Reporter Dovletmurad Yazguliyev sentenced to five years in prison
The journalist was charged with inciting a relative to commit suicide but colleagues believe he is being punished for his work, including reports on arms storage explosions.
Activists arrested on eve of EU Parliament visit
The latest detentions underscore the unrelenting repression in the country and the need for a robust EU response, said Human Rights Watch.
Activist confined to psychiatric hospital for talking to radio station
Amangelen Shapudakov accused a local government official of corruption in an interview for Radio Azatlyq, the Turkmen-language service of Radio Free Europe (RFE).
Human Rights Watch and RSF urge France to press Turkmen leader to end rights abuses
The Turkmen president’s visit is a key opportunity to urge improvements on human rights, said Human Rights Watch, RSF and other human rights organisations.
Journalists’ health deteriorates in prison
The government continues to hold two journalists who were arrested and convicted on a trumped-up charge of “possession of illegal munitions”.
Attacks on the Press in 2008: Turkmenistan
Attacks on the Press in 2008: Turkmenistan
World Report 2009: Turkmenistan
World Report 2009: Turkmenistan
Human rights activist, who had helped distribute information about Turkmenistan to the world, amnestied after being imprisoned for alleged “embezzlement”
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 9 December 2008 Human Rights Watch press release: Turkmenistan: Rights Activist Freed Releases of Others Should Follow (New York, December 9, 2008) – A Turkmen human rights activist, Valery Pal, was freed on December 6, 2008 from prison, where he was serving a sentence following a politically motivated prosecution, […]
RFE/RL journalist released from forced psychiatric internment, his telephone disabled to silence him
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is an 11 July 2008 CPJ press release: TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL unable to reach reporter New York, July 11, 2008 – A contributing reporter for the Turkmen Service of the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) who was forcibly held for two weeks in two different psychiatric facilities has now had his […]
RFE/RL journalist tortured, forced into psychiatric hospital; another RFE/RL correspondent under house arrest
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 26 June 2008 CPJ press release: TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL journalist tortured, forced into a psychiatric hospital New York, June 26, 2008 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the abduction, torture, and forcible psychiatric hospitalization of Sazak Durdymuradov, a contributing reporter for the Turkmen Service of the U.S.-funded Radio Free […]
Annual Report 2008: Turkmenistan
Annual Report 2008: Turkmenistan
World Report 2008: Turkmenistan
World Report 2008: Turkmenistan