Turkmenistan: Former government minister detained: Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov
On 5 October, former government minister Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov was detained and sent to a drug rehabilitation centre in Turkmenistan, where he may be subjected to forced medical treatment. Amnesty International is concerned that his detention may be punishment for his criticism of the Turkmenistani authorities.
UA: 318/12 Index: EUR 61/005/2012 Turkmenistan Date: 26 October 2012
URGENT ACTION
FORMER GOVERNMENT MINISTER DETAINED
On 5 October, former government minister Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov was detained
and sent to a drug rehabilitation centre in Turkmenistan, where he may be subjected to
forced medical treatment. Amnesty International is concerned that his detention may be
punishment for his criticism of the Turkmenistani authorities.
On 5 October, Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov, born in 1952, was detained in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan.
He was transferred to a drug rehabilitation centre in the province of Dashoguz – 600km from the capital, in northern
Turkmenistan – for up to six months of medical treatment. Amnesty International’s research has revealed no
evidence that Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov has any history of drug use. Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov may have
been targeted for his political activities and criticism of the Turkmenistan government, as he has been previously. In
December 2011, in an interview with the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Turkmen service, he criticized the
Turkmenistan government for the absence of democracy and human rights in the country and called the ruling
Democratic Party of Turkmenistan an "unlawful institution". The construction company owned by Geldimurat
Nurmuhammedov’s family was closed by the authorities, several days after the interview. Before the interview, the
company had not experienced any problems with the tax and financial authorities.
On 11 January 2012, the law on political parties was adopted by the Parliament of Turkmenistan, formally
legalising the formation of political parties. However, Turkmenistani human rights defenders and opposition political
activists in exile have expressed doubts about the application of the law and the willingness of the authorities to
allow open political debate. On 21 August, the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs was established; this is the
first time an alternative to the ruling Turkmenistan Democratic Party has been permitted since 1991.
Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov served as Minister of Tourism and Culture in Turkmenistan from 1992 to 1995.
Before his detention, he worked as a lawyer, advising international companies.
Please write immediately in Turkmen, Russian, English or your own language:
Calling on the authorities to ensure that Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov is not subjected to forced medical
treatment;
Calling on them to investigate the legality of Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov’s detention and the allegations
that he may have been targeted because of his political views;
Reminding them to ensure that everyone is able to peacefully exercise their right to freedom of expression
and association in conformity with Turkmenistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 DECEMBER 2012 TO:
President
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov
Presidential Palace
744000 Ashgabat
Turkmenistan
Fax: +993 12 93 5112 (please keep trying between
10 am and 3 pm GMT)
Salutation: Dear President
Minister of Interior
Isgender Mulikov
Ul. 2033 (pr. Mahtumkuli) 85
744000 Ashgabat
Turkmenistan
Fax: +993 12 39 1944 (please keep trying between
10 am and 3 pm GMT)
Salutation: Dear Minister
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
FORMER GOVERNMENT MINISTER DETAINED
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In Turkmenistan human rights defenders and other civil society activists are unable to operate openly. In recent years, Amnesty
International has received credible reports of harassment, torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and imprisonment
after unfair trials of human rights defenders and other activists, independent journalists, individuals who are critical of the
authorities and former government officials. The authorities closely monitor communication channels, such as telephone lines
and the internet. Human rights defenders have told Amnesty International that they believe that the authorities monitor their
communications to prevent information about human rights violations reaching international human rights organizations and
media.
Journalists working with foreign media outlets known to publish criticism of the authorities frequently face harassment,
intimidation and arbitrary detention. Many journalists report that the authorities often disconnect their telephone lines, and the
relatively small number with private internet access report frequent disruptions to the service. The authorities have on many
occasions attempted to silence correspondents of the US Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which is often
critical of the authorities in Turkmenistan and has broadcast human rights concerns.
Critical media reporting is very rarely tolerated. Independent civil society activists are unable to operate openly and some are
forced to live in exile. Fear for dissidents’ safety was heightened in September 2010 when President Gurbanguly
Berdymukhamedov called on the Ministry of National Security 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.”
Name: Geldimurat Nurmuhammedov
Gender m/f: m
UA: 318/12 Index: EUR 61/005/2012 Issue Date: 26 October 2012