08.02.2010

Felix Corley

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March 2009, Shirin Akhmedova, the former Director of the government's National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (photo), rejected the recommendations from numerous international organisations, that Turkmenistan introduce a civilian alternative service.

The City Court in Dashoguz – which sentenced 18-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Navruz Nasyrlaev to two years' imprisonment in December 2009 – refused to discuss his case with Forum 18 News Service. Asked if it is a state secret, a woman at the court responded: «Yes.» His case brings to five the number of Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for refusing compulsory military service in Turkmenistan, with a further three serving non-custodial sentences. Five of the eight sentences were handed down by Dashoguz City Court. Nasyrlaev's imprisonment comes as the Turkmen government's… >> подробнее

05.02.2010

Felix Corley

Taken off an aeroplane in the capital Ashgabad just before departure in October 2007, Protestant pastor Ilmurad Nuliev has been unable to leave Turkmenistan since. Like many who are on the exit blacklist, the Migration Service refuses to tell him why.

He told Forum 18 News Service the ban could only have been imposed to punish him for his religious activity. The exit blacklist is part of the Turkmen government's long-standing policy of trying to isolate religious communities within the country from their fellow-believers abroad, which has included expelling legally resident foreigners who engaged in religious activity. In 2009 it banned even the small number of Muslims allowed to go on the haj pilgrimage to leave for Mecca, citing health grounds. One foreign Protestant told Forum 18 the Gengeshi (Council) for Religious Affairs refused… >> подробнее

04.02.2010

James Delly

It seems fitting that opaque is the best word to describe Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's just-concluded visit to the City of Light.

The Turkmen president visited Paris on February 1-2, holding abundant discussions with French political leaders and business executives, without producing any significant deals. Originally, Berdymukhamedov had planned to stay in France for a third day, which would have been dedicated to visiting industrial sites outside of Paris. But that part of the program was cancelled and the Turkmen leader departed early for Ashgabat. In 2007, during the run-up to the presidential election, French President Nicholas Sarkozy was said to proclaim: «To be silent is to be an accomplice, and I don't… >> подробнее