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FARID TUKHBATULLIN: TURKMENISTAN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE IS RELEASED
April 2, 2003 the environmental activist Farid Tukhbatullin was released
from prison.
Late at night Turkmenistan national TV-channel has reported that the
presidential pardon was granted to Farid Tukhbatullin. Probable reason of
pardon are numerous protests of international community, and also the
promise made by Turkmen President Saparmurad Niazov to Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer, the chair in office of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) during his visit in Turkmenistan in March.
As we already reported, March 4 the Azaltyck District court of Ashgabat (the
capital of Turkmenistan) has convicted Farid Tukhbatullin to 3 years of
imprisonment. He was accused of illegitimate crossing of border between
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (article 210 (1) of Turkmenistan Criminal Code)
and misprision (article 214).
The environmentalist was accused of non reporting of preparing attempt on
the President Saparmurad Niyazov, which in opinion of Turkmen authorities,
was discussed at Human Rights Conference held November 2002 in Moscow. In
fact, Farid had become the victim of the wave of "witch-hunt" raised after
the attempt on the President of the country.
The conference was organized by International Helsinki Federation and
"Memorial" Human Rights organization. The members of international human
rights organizations - Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Human Rights
League, Amnesty International - took part in the conference. All these
organizations witnessed for Farid Tukhbatullin innocence in court, and
insisted on peace content of the conference. The authorities of
Turkmenistan, however, have found participation of Farid Tukhbatullin in the
conference and non-reporting of its content criminal, and he was imprisoned.
Tukhbatullin was also charged in illegal crossing of Turkmen border. The
reason for this charge has become missed stamp of border crossing in
Tukhbatullin's passport, that frontier official accidentally forgot to
stamp.
Possible Letter Text
More background and possible letter text from Amnesty International
Chronicle
Conviction of Turkmen activist Farid Tukhbatullin
Turkmenistan: Farid Tukhbatullin (m), aged 41, civil society activist and co-chair of the Ecological Club
Turkmenistan: President Niazov should keep his promise and release Imprisoned Ecologist
Charges Against Farid Tukhbatullin are Forwarded to Public Prosecutor's Office
The International Community Stands Up For Farid Tukhbatullin
OSCE concerned over arrest of NGO activist in Turkmenistan
Russian Human Rights Federal Commission: Russian citizen Tukhbatullin should be released
Farid Tukhbatullin, Turkmen Civil Society Activist, Arrested by Security Services
