Environmental Advocate Freed
Biologist Andrei Zakota was released from prison on 6 November 2009 after his five year sentence was commuted. NEAR joins Human Rights Watch in welcoming his release but expresses concern that he may now be forced out of Turkmenistan.
Following his release Human Rights Watch has reported that Zatoka is effectively being forced to leave the country and may have had his apartment confiscated. His five year sentence was replaced by a fine of the equivalent of around $350 but it has been reported that he is now preparing to leave the country.
Zatoka was sentenced to five years in prison following his arrest in October on charges of assault, following an altercation with a stranger in a market. Human Rights Watch believes the conviction was a politically motivated move to silence the well known environmental activist.
The environmental advocate was attacked without warning on 20th October 2009 and was immediately arrested by two police officers at the scene. The alleged victim is reported to have suffered a broken wrist and concussion following what appears to be a staged attack. Zatoka’s trial was held three working days after the arrest and the requests from the defence to postpone the hearing were refused.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Zakota co-founded the Dashoguz Ecological Club in 1992 along with Farid Tukhbatullin. The group was closed down following Tukhbatullin’s arrest. Tukhbatullin was released in 2003 following international pressure. He left Turkmenistan and now heads the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights.
President Berdymukhamedov came to power in December 2006 promising to improve the human rights situation in his country, but no genuine reforms appear to have been made and the country continues to have one of the worst human rights records in the world. Section 2 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, adopted on 18th May 2002, outlines the rights of individuals and citizens including freedom from cruel and unusual punishment.
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Alert - Turkmenistan
| Date: | 12 November 2009 |
| Source: | Human Rights Watch |
| Classification: | NEAR Member |
| Violation: | Detained on False Charges |
| Affected Persons: | Andrei Zakota |
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