Rights Group Says Repressive Turkmen Policies Unchanged

(RFE/RL) July 10, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The head of an international rights group says there has been no relaxation of policies restricting civil society groups in Turkmenistan since President Saparmurat Niyazov died in late 2006.

Aaron Rhodes, executive director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service today that no independent human rights organizations can openly work inside the country.

He also called for an independent investigation into the death of RFE/RL correspondent Ogulsapar Muradova, who died while in custody in late 2006.