Feature story - 20 December, 2006
Vienna, 19 December 2006. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TI) are concerned about the detention of Andrey Zatoka, a well-known Turkmen ecologist and environmental activist, in the city of Dashauz on 17 December 2006. The reasons for Zatoka’s detention remain unclear, but the circumstances clearly suggest that it was an act of intimidation motivated by his civil society engagement.
Zatoka has been involved in civil society activities aimed at
improving environmental conditions in Turkmenistan for many years
and previously served as the co-chair of the Dashauz Ecological
Club, which was closed down by a court in 2003. He was detained the
same day as he was supposed to leave for Ashgabat, from where he
was due to travel to Moscow to attend a meeting of the
International Socio-Ecological Union, on whose advisory board he is
serving. His family resides in Russia, and he planned to celebrate
the New Year with them.
The IHF and the TI call on the Turkmen authorities to promptly
investigate the case of Zatoka and to ensure that he is immediately
released if his detention was politically motivated. We also urge
the authorities to ensure that he can, without hindrance, continue
to engage in peaceful and legitimate civil society activities
benefiting the citizens of Turkmenistan, including by interacting
with colleagues from other countries.
For more information:
Aaron Rhodes, IHF Executive Director, +43-676-635 6612;Henriette
Schroeder, IHF press Officer, +43-676-725 4829;Farid Tukhbatullin,
TI Chair, +43-1-944 1327.