It is two years since an organized anti-government demonstration which took place in the capital on 12 July 1995 was violently suppressed by law enforcement personnel. As a result of criminal prosecutions arising from the demonstration, two years on eight people are still serving prison sentences. Amnesty International regards these eight men – Amanmyrat Amandurdyyev Khudayberdi Amandurdyyev, Charymyrat Amandurdyyev, Gulgeldi Annanyyazov, Charymyrat Gurov, Begmyrat Khozhayev, Kazymyrat Nazarov and Batyr Sakhetliyev – as political prisoners, and has a range of concerns including possible unfair trial and continuing ill-treatment.
