Freedom of expression, association, religion and movement continued to be restricted.
Dozens of people imprisoned following unfair trials remained in prison, many held
incommunicado. At least eight conscientious objectors served prison terms.
The authorities continued to suppress dissent. Journalists working with foreign media
outlets known to publish criticism of the authorities faced harassment and intimidation.
Independent civil society activists were unable to operate openly in Turkmenistan.
Fear for dissidents’ safety was heightened after President Berdymukhamedov called
on the Ministry of National Security (MNS) in September to fight those who, according
to the government website, “defame our democratic law-based secular state and try
to destroy the unity and solidarity of our society.”
Prisoners of conscience Annakurban Amanklychev and Sapardurdy Khadzhiev, associated
with the NGO Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation, continued to serve prison terms for
“illegal acquisition, possession or sale of ammunition or firearms”, imposed in 2006
following an unfair trial. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention studied the
case and concluded in August that the two men were arbitrarily detained to punish
them for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association and for
their human rights activities. It stated that the two had been denied a fair trial
and called on the authorities to promptly release them and award them appropriate
financial compensation.
In September, the satellite TV channel K+, which broadcasts to Central Asia, aired
an interview with Farid Tukhbatullin, director in exile of the Turkmen Initiative
for Human Rights (TIHR). It provided people in Turkmenistan with a rare opportunity
to receive information about human rights in their country from a non-governmental
source. Subsequently, the TIHR website was disabled by an attack by unknown hackers,
until the group moved its site from a Moscow host to one in another country. In October
Farid Tukhbatullin received reliable information that MNS officials had discussed
“get[ting] rid of [him] quietly”, in a way that was hard to trace.
Religious activity was strictly controlled. In its January report to the Human Rights
Committee, Turkmenistan stated that “[t]he activity of unregistered religious organizations
is prohibited”. Many religious minorities continued to be denied registration, often
without explanation. Lack of registration made them more vulnerable to raids and other
harassment by the authorities.
In October Protestant Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment
for “swindling”. His supporters believed he was targeted for his religious activity
and that the evidence produced against him was fabricated. The court reportedly ordered
that he be forced to undergo treatment for alleged drug use, a practice which his
supporters denied.
Refusal to serve in the army remained a criminal offence. At least eight Jehovah’s
Witnesses were serving prison terms for conscientious objection and three more were
serving suspended sentences.
Dovleet Byashimov was detained in August and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment
by Turkmenabad City Court for his refusal to serve in the army on conscientious grounds.
After his arrest, he was reportedly held incommunicado and severely beaten.
The authorities continued to withhold information about the whereabouts of dozens
of people arrested and convicted in connection with the alleged assassination attempt
on former President Saparmurad Niyazov in 2002. Calls on the authorities to disclose
information about those who had died in custody remained unanswered.
Dissidents and religious believers were in many cases prevented from travelling abroad
on the basis of a “black list”.
From July onwards officials prevented scores of dual passport holders from leaving
Turkmenistan unless they surrendered one passport and acquired an exit visa if they
chose to keep their Turkmenistani citizenship. The attempt to remove citizenship without
proper legal procedures and without the possibility of appeal or review by an independent
court may amount to a violation of the human right not to be arbitrarily deprived
of nationality.
“Propiska” – the system of registering the place of permanent residence – continued
to restrict people’s rights to freedom of movement within Turkmenistan, and affected
access to housing, employment, social benefits, health care and education. The threat
of losing a “propiska” was used by the police and security services to prevent people
complaining of ill-treatment by police.
