Ahead of elections on 11 February, Amnesty International issued today a list of recommendations calling on the next President of Turkmenistan to put an end to stifling freedom of expression, arbitrary detention and torture, and unfair trials, as well as violations of social and economic rights.
"Turning into reality the pre-election promise to provide internet access for all would be a welcome move. However, a lot more needs to be done -- all media remains state-controlled, internet access is closely monitored by the Ministry of National Security, and human rights activists are detained or at risk of reprisals. Freedom of expression and association is a crucial prerequisite for the active engagement of civil society," said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.
"The new President and his government should promptly initiate reforms to bring Turkmenistan’s laws and practices in line with the country’s obligations under international human rights law.”
The regime of the late President Saparmurad Niyazov ruthlessly repressed any form of peaceful dissent. Dissidents were tortured and imprisoned after unfair trials or forced into exile. People were dismissed from their jobs and barred from travelling abroad simply because they were related to a dissident while the authorities targeted human rights defenders, portraying their activities as “treason” and “espionage”. The subordination of executive, legislative and judicial powers to the President was key to the failure to address impunity or counter the widespread abuse of human rights. (MORE) http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR610062007
"Turning into reality the pre-election promise to provide internet access for all would be a welcome move. However, a lot more needs to be done -- all media remains state-controlled, internet access is closely monitored by the Ministry of National Security, and human rights activists are detained or at risk of reprisals. Freedom of expression and association is a crucial prerequisite for the active engagement of civil society," said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.
"The new President and his government should promptly initiate reforms to bring Turkmenistan’s laws and practices in line with the country’s obligations under international human rights law.”
The regime of the late President Saparmurad Niyazov ruthlessly repressed any form of peaceful dissent. Dissidents were tortured and imprisoned after unfair trials or forced into exile. People were dismissed from their jobs and barred from travelling abroad simply because they were related to a dissident while the authorities targeted human rights defenders, portraying their activities as “treason” and “espionage”. The subordination of executive, legislative and judicial powers to the President was key to the failure to address impunity or counter the widespread abuse of human rights. (MORE) http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR610062007