Individuals at Risk

Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the newly-sworn president of Turkmenistan, must break with the country's long legacy or repression and offer its people a new commitment to human rights.  Following the death from a heart attack in December 2006 of President  Saparmurad Niyazov, after 21 year in power, his successor must seize the opportunity to end long-standing and serious human rights violations and to bring in urgently needed reforms in law and practice.  To learn more, read Amnesty's report "Turkmenistan: Victims need justice now!"

Some of the victims of human right violations have been put behind bars solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.  Others have been imprisoned for years after unfair trails.  Many have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated.  Families have been subjected to intimidation and harassment solely because of their family relationship with a dissident. 

Geldy Kyarizov is in desperate need of urgent medical treatment.  He has been in prison for over 5 years since his conviction in a trail that failed to meet international fair trial standards.  Former Director of the state Turkmen Horses (Turkemnatlary) association and an internationally renowned breeder of rare horses, he was sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment on doubtful charges after having fallen out of favor with President Niyazov.  Support human rights in Turkmenistan by taking action through Amnesty International USA's Online Action Center.  Call on the new government of Turkmenistan to immediately provide medical help to Geldy Kyarizov and to release him if he is not to be promptly and fairly tried.

Yours,

Tatyana Cooper

Andrei Zatoka's wife, Yevgenia Zatoka, wrote: ''We won! Andrei is free!'' and Farid Tukhbatullin, the director of the human rights group Turkmenistan Initiative for Human Rights, who worked with Andrei Zatoka for many years in the Dashoguz Ecological Club, told Amnesty International:
''We are grateful to all, who took part in the campaign for Andrei's defense, all who were sympathetic and helped.''

Andrei Zatoka had been detained on December 17 as he traveled from his home town of Dashoguz, Turkmenistan, to Moscow, on his way to a meeting with fellow activists in the International Social and Ecological Union. There were allegations that he was targeted to punish him for his peaceful work as an environmental activist. On January 31, Dashoguz city court sentenced Andrei Zatoka to a suspended sentence of three years' imprisonment and ordered his immediate release. He and his supporters are grateful for the appeals sent by UA activists on his behalf.

As you know, AI has been seriously concerned about the widespread abuse of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights in Turkmenistan. The authorities have a record of clamping down on dissidents, including civil society activists, despite Turkmenistan's obligations under international human rights law. Civil society activists have been frequently subjected to interrogation and other harassment by the authorities, and have in some cases been tortured or ill-treated, arbitrarily detained, or imprisoned. In September 2006, journalist and prisoner of conscience Ogulsapar Muradova died in custody, and AI continues to press officials to conduct a thorough and independent investigation into her death, due to allegations that she was subjected to torture and ill-treatment in detention.

So Andrei Zatoka's release is a great victory in a country where we have had few successes recently.

Natasha Nummedal

Urgent Action Network Director