Document - BULGARIE. Torture / Préoccupations d'ordre juridique.

PUBLIC AI Index: EUR 15/002/2007

03 May 2007

Further Information on UA 95/07 (EUR 15/001/2007, 20 April 2007) – Torture/legal concern

BULGARIA Annadurdy Khadzhiev (m), aged 49, Russian and Turkmenistani national

Varna district court's 12 April ruling that Annadurdy Khadzhiev should not be extradited to Turkmenistan was confirmed by Varna appeal court on 3 May.

Annadurdy Khadzhiev's wife, Tadzhigul Begmedova, who is the director of the human rights group Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (THF), thanked the UA network, and added, “I believe that international pressure was crucial to ensure that this decision – that my husband will not be extradited – was taken.”

Annadurdy Khadzhiev, a leader of Turkmenistan's exiled opposition Watan (Fatherland) Party, had been detained by the Bulgarian authorities in February, after the Turkmenistani authorities lodged an extradition request. Amnesty International campaigned against his extradition as he would have been at serious risk of torture and imprisonment following an unfair trial, if returned to Turkmenistan.

No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.