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From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

(Dec 21, 2006)

Environmental Activist Andrey Zatoka Detained in Turkmenistan

On December 17, environmental activist Andrey Zatoka, who holds both Russian and Turkmenistani citizenship, was reportedly detained arbitrarily at the airport in Dashauz while preparing to go to Moscow. Zatoka was leaving to visit his family and to attend a meeting of the International Social and Ecological Union on December 18. Zatoka was detained for an alleged breach of public order. His family has not been informed of where he is being held. Zatoka has been involved in civil society activities regarding environmental issues in Turkmenistan for many years. He is a member of the Council of the International Social and Ecological Union, and he also previously co-chaired the Dashauz Ecological Club, which was closed down by the courts in 2003.

The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights, and Amnesty International all suspect that this arrest was politically motivated. Amnesty International claims that this instance is only one example of the appalling condition of human rights in Turkmenistan. Amnesty International also fears that Zatoka may be subject to torture or ill-treatment while in custody.

Amnesty International recommends that concerned individuals send appeals to the President of Turkmenistan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as to any diplomatic representatives of Turkmenistan in their countries. Letters can be written in Turkmen, Russian, English, or any other language. In the letters of appeal, individuals should: express concern that Andrey Zatoka has been detained, seemingly to punish him for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association, and if so, that he is therefore a prisoner of conscience and should be released immediately; mention that Turkmenistan is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of which Articles 19 and 22 guarantee rights to freedom of expression and association; urge authorities to ensure that Zatoka is protected from any form of torture or ill-treatment while in custody; urge authorities to give Zatoka immediate access to his family and to lawyers; and express concern about the continued suppression of dissent in Turkmenistan, which has led many activists to be arbitrarily detained, tortured or ill-treated, and imprisoned after dubious trials.

Send an Appeal to the President:

Send an Appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

mfatm@online.tm

View the joint statement by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights.

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Below is a letter from the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy concerning Mr. Zatoka's detainment:

December 21, 2006

Acting President of Turkmenistan Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov
Apparat Prezidenta
744000 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Fax: +993 12 35 51 12

Dear Acting President Berdymukhamedov:

On behalf of the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy, a global network of thousands of democracy activists, practitioners, scholars, and policy makers engaged in the promotion of democracy worldwide, we write to express our deep concern about recent actions taken by the Government of Turkmenistan against environmental activist, Mr. Andrey Zatoka, who was reportedly detained arbitrarily at the airport in Dashauz on December 17, and whose current whereabouts are not being made known even to his own family. Our understanding is that Mr. Zatoka, who holds both Russian and Turkmenistani citizenship and should thus be allowed to travel freely between the two countries, was leaving on December 18 to visit his family in Moscow and to attend a meeting of the International Social and Ecological Union, of whose Council he is a member.

If Mr. Zatoka is being detained to punish him for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association, which we very much fear, we conclude that he is a prisoner of conscience and should be released immediately, particularly given that Turkmenistan is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which specifically guarantees freedom of speech and association. In the meantime, we call upon you personally to ensure that Mr. Zatoka is protected from any form of ill-treatment or torture while in custody and that both his family and a lawyer of his choosing be given immediate access to him.

Our fervent hope is that this case is not yet another in a train of abuses reflecting continued suppression of dissent and citizen rights in Turkmenistan during which many activists have been arbitrarily detained, subject to torture or ill-treatment, and imprisoned following questionable trials. We would therefore appreciate your immediate and full attention to our concerns, and we look forward to Mr. Zatoka's release from detention.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Ayo Obe, member (Nigeria) and Chair
Art Kaufman, Director