Accessibility links

Breaking News

Rights Groups Worry Over Fate Of RFE/RL Turkmen Journalist

Updated

Rovshen Yazmuhamedov
Rovshen Yazmuhamedov
The human rights groups Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have released statements expressing concern over detained RFE/RL Turkmen correspondent Rovshen Yazmuhamedov, saying he is at risk of torture.

“Though charges against him have not been disclosed by authorities, there are fears that he may have been targeted in connection with his work and that he is at grave risk of torture,” the statement from Amnesty International said.

RSF said Yazmuhamedov’s detention “represents a gross violation of his constitutional rights and the international conventions ratified by Turkmenistan.”

HRW said in a statement issued on May 11 that Turkmen authorities "should immediately free or credibly charge" Yazmuhamedov, who was arrested for "unreported reasons."

Yazmuhamedov was detained on May 6 in Turkmenabat in eastern Turkmenistan but his family was only able to get word out about the detention on May 9.

Amnesty International noted in its statement that “RFE/RL is one of the few remaining sources of independent information about life in Turkmenistan."
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG