In May 2013, the Monitoring Service received 23 reports. Ten of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of social, legal and political environment and thirteen reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals.

I. POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL ENVIRONMENT DEFINING THE FACTUAL SITUATION IN THE MEDIA

1. Statements and actions of public officials defining the factual status of the mass media

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, New York

“Celebrating the World Press Day, let us promise to do everything depending on us so that journalists of all media could perform their work”, — said Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretery General.

“The topic of the World Press Day this year is “To speak the truth with no fear: to ensure the freedom of speech in all mass media”, and this is the evidence of a necessity to take measures and confirm the right of journalists to perform their vitally important work”, — the statement says.

The statement also describes numerous incidents and attacks on media professionals all around the World. Governments, corporations and criminals want to shut them down, to introduce censorship; they intimidate journalists.

More than 600 journalists have been killed in the last decade; more than 120 journalists – only during the last year. Hundreds of journalists have been arrested. Influential forces apply various means: physical attacks, cyber hounding, etc.

Journalists working for traditional mass media as well as their colleagues publishing their articles in social networks and blogs find themselves in risk zones more and more frequently. The United Nations has endorsed a plan on protecting journalists. The purpose of this plan is to strengthen public awareness and ensure practical measures on creating safe environment for media professionals.

3 May

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Brussels

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission published a statement on the occasion of the World Press Day on behalf of the European Union.

Inter alia, the statement says the following: “Celebrating the 20-th anniversary of the World Press Day, the European Union pays a tribute to journalists all over the World, expressing respect to those who sometimes bear personal losses in the line of duty while covering events or expressing their thoughts.

The free, independent and dynamic media are indispensable in any democratic society. The European Union is determined to fight for the freedom of press all over the World. We condemn intimidations, violence and censorship, which journalists face in many countries.

The freedom of expression must be protected in traditional mass media, as well as in the Internet. The European Union will continue to support the freedom of expression in the online mode and in the autonomous mode; new technologies can become crucial in promoting human rights and democracy. The European Union will continue to condemn violations of the freedom of expression so that journalists all over the World would freely perform their professional duties.

May 2

Nuriddin Karshiboev, chairman of NANSMIT, Dushanbe

The chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) called on journalists to restrain from cooperating with Radio Ozodi (the Tajik service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty).

“On 22 April, Radio Ozodi dissolved the labor agreement with Abdukayum Auybzod in a unilateral procedure, which contravenes the Tajik legislation. We want to ensure observance of rights for Tajik media professionals. I apply to journalists and experst seeking their support for Abdukayum Auybzod who has made so much for Radio Ozodi”, — said Karshiboev.

May 04

All media, Dushanbe

Makhmudjon Saraev, senior specialist of the President’s Office information-analytical department told journalists at a press conference about the implementation of the President’s Decree “On measures to be taken by public officials in response to criticism in the media”.

The official said that even before the Decree was endorsed, most of the government institutions had their press offices in charge of contacts with the media. At the level of administrative centers and towns, the functions of press secretaries are performed by deputies of heads of municipalities.

The Decree issued in February 2009, pursues the goal of constructive cooperation between ministries, enterprises, executive authorities and the mass media.

May 5

Rakhmatillo Zoirov, chairman of the Social-democratic Party, Dushanbe

The Social-democratic Party of Tajikistan has supported the initiative of a number of media organizations to boycott the activities of Radio Ozodi (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty) in the country.

The media organizations called on journalists and experts to stop communicating with the radio station until its managers resolve the issue of labor contract with Abdukayumi Ayubzod.

Rakhmatillo Zoirov, chairman of SDPT told the media that Radio Ozodi, which is financed by the US government, does not observe democratic requirements and fails to protect the rights of its employees.

In this regard, SDPT intends to send an official letter to the US embassy in Dushanbe with a request to assist in solving this issue.

2. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

2 May

All media

The Tajik media community declared boycott to Radio Ozodi (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty). According to the Millat weekly (#18, 01.05.2013), the boycott will continue until Abdukayum Ayubzod, the correspondent of Radio Ozodi is restored to his former position in a judicial proceeding.

The boycott was supported by the National Association of Independent Mass Media, by the Media Council and the Media Alliance of Tajikistan.

3 May

All media, Dushanbe

At a National Conference on the occasion of the International Free Press Day organized by the Tajik Media Council under support of the OSCE Office in Dushanbe, participants voiced an initiative on transferring Articles 330 and 137 (“insult of public officials” and “public insult of the President”, respectively) from the Criminal Code to the Civil Code.

Junaid Ibodov, the well-known Tajik legal expert said that the decriminalization of Articles 135 and 136 of the Tajik Criminal Code (related to “defamation” and “libel”) caused “premature euphoria”. “Article 330 remains the main “enemy” of the freedom of speech and expression. Applying this Article, public officials can continue persecuting journalists”, — he said.

3. Factual situation in the media and the freedom of speech

4 May

Freedom House, the US non-governmental organization

The US NGO Freedom House published its annual report describing and analyzing the freedom of the media in 2012 around the World.

The report covers 197 countries grouped by the following categories: free countries (from 0 to 30 points); moderately free (from 31 to 60 points) and constrained (from 61 to 100 points).

Tajikistan has “gained” 79 points, “lagging behind” Russia by one point.

17 May

All media

Foreign human rights watchdogs and media organizations jointly with the Tajik National Association of Mass Media (NANSMIT) issued an public statement asking Mr. Kevin Klose, the acting director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to set up an independent commission for studying the situation in the Kazakh, Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek services of RFE/RL.

The statement issued on 15 May, says that the crisis within Radio Liberty leads to limitations in the freedom of the media in Central Asia. Reports of the Kazakh and Turkmen services duplicate publications of the government media. The shortwave broadcasting on Uzbekistan has essentially reduced; labor rights of the Kazakh and Tajik correspondents are repeatedly violated.

“RFE/RL is a medium, which should be a major conductor of democratic values, but the violation of labor rights and infringement of the international standards of the media freedom cause concern among journalists and human rights activists”, — the statement says.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Protection of labor rights

2 May

Khurshedi Khamdam, head of Radio Ozodi, Dushanbe

Khurshedi Khamdam, head of the Tajik bureau of Radio Ozodi told the ImruzNews weekly (#71, 29.04.2013) that he was trying his best to reinstate Abdukayum Ayubzod in the position of correspondent.

“Regrettably, nothing depends on me. The Tajik foreign ministry does not want to prolong his accreditation, and thus, we had to terminate the labor agreement with him”, — said Khamdam.

15 May

Abdukayum Ayubzod, journalist, Dushanbe

The case of Abdukayum Ayubzod, correspondent of Radio Ozodi will be investigated by the Ismoili Somoni district court in Dushanbe.

Faizinisso Vokhodova, the lawyer representing her client told journalists that they intend to demand reinstatement of Ayubzod in his former position and compensation of the salaries, which he did not received while he was illegally suspended from duties.

2. Unlawful limitation of access to information

7 May

Nahzat.tj, web site of PIRT, Dushanbe

The Party of Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (PIRT) sent an official letter to Beg Zukhurov, head of the government communication service asking the official to explain the reasons of blocking the Party’s web site – www.Nahzat.tj

Access to the web site has been blocked since 25 April. According to Saidumar Khusaini, representative of PIRT and member of the Tajik parliament, the domestic Internet providers do not comment on that either.

After a while, PIRT received an official response signed by the head of Communication Service saying that his agency has not given any errands to the Internet providers. “It might be feasible to contact the Internet provider with whom you are having an agreement”, — Zukhurov said in his letter.

PIRT considers this response illogical. The Party has an agreement with one particular company – Babilon-T. But the problems exist with other providers – ТСеll, Beeline, Megafon, Saturn Online, Istera, and others.

It would not be logical either to conclude contracts with the Internet providers. PIRT says that access to the web site is blocked only on the territory of Tajikistan. PIRT has also stated that it will apply to the court unless the problem is resolved in the near future.

15 May

Ozodagon news agency, Dushanbe

The Samak weekly (#20, 15 May 2013) published an article titled “What Beg Zukhurov can tell?”, raising the issue of access to the web site of the Party of Islamic Renaissance of Tajikistan (PIRT) and the web site of the Ozodagon news agency.

Referring to the executive director of Ozodagon, Samak says that independent experts cannot establish the reasons for blocking the web sites. Beg Zukhurov is a very peculiar public official; usuallyб he is quite reluctant to comment on his decisions affecting access to online sources of information.

16 May

Zvezda, Russian radio station, Dushanbe

On 3 May, the 201-st Russian Motorized Division deployed in Tajikistan terminated the broadcasting of Radio Zvezda (Asia Plus weekly, #33, 06.05.2013).

Deputy head of the Tajik State Broadcasting Committee Samad Khikmatov told Asia Plus that the Russian military division maintained illegal rebroadcasting of a foreign electronic medium. According to the official, Tajikistan cannot give a broadcasting license to foreign citizens.

21 May

www.kplus-tv.net – web site of the K Plus TV

Access to the recorded TV programs on the web site belonging to the K Plus TV channel is blocked. The first deputy head of the Tajik government communication service Rafikjon Shokirov told the Ozodagon weekly that his agency has nothing to do with this technical problem.

The communication service denies its relation to the blocking of the web site. It should be noted that the web site was blocked after a TV program (on 19 May) depicting the festive wedding of Rustam Emomali, the son of the Tajik president Emomali Rakhmon. The video segments were accompanied by comments of the Tajik oppositionist Dodojon Atovulloev.

27 May

Video portal YouTube

According to Asomiddin Atoev, chairman of the Tajik National Association of Internet Providers, access to the popular online portal YouTube has been blocked since 27 May. Only one of the six domestic Internet providers has not blocked access to YouTube.

“We asked Beg Zukhurov, the head of the government communication service about the reason for blocking. Neither the official, nor his deputies are willing to to comment on that; but the Internet providers received a written errand from the communication agency”, — said Atoev.

This is the third blocking of YouTube in Tajikistan since July 2012.

29 May

K Plus TV

The Tajik government communication service has been jamming the K Plus TV channel broadcasting from the territory of Kazakhstan.

The communication agency officials deny their relation to the jamming, adding that “…the problems of broadcasting as well as access to the K Plus web site are “internal technical  problems” of the TV channel”.

4. Unlawful summoning of journalist

 

27 May

Ramziya Mirzobekova, Asia Plus weekly, Dushanbe

On 27 May, the State National Security Committee summoned Ramziya Mirzobekova, correspondent of the popular weekly Asia Plus “for an interview”.

According to Mirzobekova, she required the Committee to send her an official subpoena. The subpoena was delivered a few days later. On her personal Facebook page, the journalist shared details of the conversation with law enforcement officials. The national security officers asked her about her professional activities, and at the end of the conversation, stated that her publications in Asia Plus can jeopardize the national security – referring to articles about the recent developments in the city of Khorog, the administrative center of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.

Mirzobekova was also questioned with regard to her affiliation to the recently established Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society. The national security official reminded her that in the early 1990-s, such “organizations” brought the country to the civil war.

On her Facebook page, the journalist also described “friendly conversations” practiced by law enforcement agencies as intimidation and violation of the freedom of expression.

 

Across the former Soviet Union, entrepreneurs may be skilled in the art of making money, but they soon find themselves out of their depth when it comes to the business of politics.

The poster boy for the inadvisability of trying to make the cross-over from business to politics is, of course, Mikhail Khordokovsky, the one-time Russian oil magnate who has been imprisoned since 2005. There is also the example of Kazakhstan’s Mukhtar Abylyazov, a co-founder of the Democratic Choice Movement that briefly challenged President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s authority in the early 2000s. Ablyazov is now in exile, hounded by a protracted and expensive embezzlement case against him.

The latest example of an oligarch falling on hard times after challenging established authority is Tajikistan’s Zaid Saidov, a well-known businessman and former minister of industry who was detained May 19 at Dushanbe Airport upon arrival from a trip abroad. He is facing embezzlement and polygamy charges.

Only last month, Saidov emerged as a driving force behind the formation of New Tajikistan, a group comprised largely of businessmen and intellectuals who promised to focus on economic development. The party made it clear it had no interest in fielding a candidate for the presidential election this autumn. Yet it also stressed it was not a “pocket” party designed simply to create the appearance of a more vibrant political playing field in Tajikistan.

Investigators at the state anti-corruption agency are currently holding Saidov, 55, according to local media reports.

New Tajikistan members say Saidov was targeted for his political activity, stressing that he must have become a source of concern to long-serving President Imomali Rahmon, who is expected to run for another term this year.

Saidov’s party colleagues tend to avoid commenting on the record for fear of suffering a similar fate, or making his situation worse. Saidov denies the charges against him, including taking a $100,000 bribe while minister of industry and embezzling $400,000 during the construction of Dushanbe’s tallest building.

On social networks, loads of Tajiks are lamenting what they call the worst political crackdown since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Many in Dushanbe’s chattering class feel Saidov’s ties to Russia, in particular the Russian business community, may have factored significantly in his arrest. Moscow is engaged in a protracted negotiation with Rahmon over the fate of a Russian army division stationed in Tajikistan. Media in both countries have speculated that Moscow, reportedly vexed, may be interested in finding a replacement for Rahmon to lead the former Soviet republic.

On May 10, several newspaper editors received a letter alleging that Saidov had ties to a now-deceased Islamist guerrilla leader. At the time Saidov was in France, acting in his capacity as head of Tajikistan’s National Table Tennis Federation, accompanying the national team during a tournament. On May 11, police searched his home and questioned his family members, reportedly hauling all, including a five-year-old, to a police station. This week authorities began auditing his businesses and, Dushanbe’s Asia-Plus news agency reported, pamphlets discrediting Saidov began appearing around town. State television has gone on the attack too, airing programs that accuse Saidov of perpetrating vast economic crimes.

Prominent religious leader Haji Akbar Turajonzoda says the case demonstrates the incumbent administration’s intolerance of even the potential for dissent. “Unfortunately, the reality in Tajikistan is such that anyone who wishes to participate in running the country, irrespective of his or her good intentions for the sake of the people and motherland, is going to face retribution,” Asia-Plus quoted Turajonzoda as saying on May 20.

Some opposition politicians have publicly expressed their support for Saidov. The Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) – which itself has come under withering attack in recent months – has called the case against Saidov “purely political” and “biased.” In a May 21 statement, the party asked why authorities waited until now to level corruption charges that date back to his time in government; Saidov left his post in 2006.

Fostering suspicion that Saidov’s allies are being pressured to turn on him, on May 13, while he was still abroad, the general assembly of the Coordination Council of Business Associations, a lobby he headed, voted to dissolve the body. Several former colleagues accused Saidov of using the council as a platform for his political agenda. Mikhail Petrushkov, a council member, told EurasiaNet.org that the members did not present any evidence of abuse of power. “In the presence of Saidov, the council members would always applaud him and support his proposals. Now, when he is absent, they have declared him incompetent.”

“The decision to liquidate the council will have political consequences,” Petrushkov added. “The move will spoil the image of Tajikistan and have a negative impact on Tajikistan’s investment climate.”

Saidov is not the only political figure in Tajikistan to come under pressure in recent months. The IRPT has faced near-constant harassment as the elections approach. On April 19, a senior party official was savagely beaten outside his home. And earlier this month the head of the party in the restive eastern mountains was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges that Freedom House says appear to be part of a “sustained campaign to eliminate the government’s main rivals.”

The IRPT is considered the only clear-cut opposition group in Tajikistan’s rubberstamp parliament; it holds two of the legislature’s 63 seats.

In March, the head of Tajikistan’s Uzbek community went missing shortly after declaring his support for another opposition figure. He has not been heard from since. Many suspect Salimboy Shamsiddinov, who was beaten in broad daylight by unknown assailants in front of the local KGB building last year, was singled out for his political activities.

Authorities have also targeted opposition-minded figures abroad, attempting to extradite a former premier from Kiev (that case failed) and a critic currently being held in Dubai.

Editor’s note: 

Konstantin Parshin is a freelance writer based in Tajikistan

http://eurasianet.org/node/67005

TURKMENABAT, Turkmenistan — A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent based in Turkmenistan has been freed after being detained by police earlier this month. 

Rovshen Yazmuhamedov told RFE/RL that he was released on May 22 after spending two weeks in custody.

It is still unclear why he was detained in the northeastern city of Turkmenabat.

Yazmuhamedov, 30, has worked for RFE/RL since September.

His reports have focused mainly on social issues.

Last week, the European Union expressed concern about his detention and urged Turkmen authorities to explain why he was being held.

Yazmuhamedov’s relatives said the journalist was being held at a detention center run by the Interior Ministry’s Directorate No. 6, which investigates organized crime and terrorism-related cases.

http://www.rferl.org/content/rferl-turkmen-correspondent/24993898.html

ASTANA — A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent, who was detained in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, while covering a protest, has been released after spending several hours in custody.

Police detained Orken Zhoyamergen along with several demonstrators on May 22.

The protests began on May 21 when dozens of homeowners from around Kazakhstan demonstrated in front of the government and parliament buildings in Astana.

They demanded that the government intervene over what they say are excessive mortgage interest rates and foreclosures.

The protesters were returning to the city center on May 22 to resume their demonstration, but police blocked their way and detained some of them, including Zhoyamergen.

HRW Wants Charges Against Journalist Dropped

Elsewhere in Kazakhstan, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the country’s authorities to drop criminal charges against an independent journalist and civil society activist Aleksandr Kharlamov and immediately release him from a psychiatric clinic.

In statement released on May 22, HRW Central Asia researcher Mihra Rittmann said «this is hardly the first time the authorities have used criminal incitement charges to try to silence a peaceful critic.»

Kharlamov was arrested in March and charged with inciting religious hatred because of articles he wrote on world religions.

In April, he was sent from his home town of Ridder in Kazakhstan’s northeast to a psychiatric clinic in Almaty and placed under forced observation.

Kharlamov’s relatives insist his case is politically motivated.

They say authorities launched investigations against Kharlamov after he published articles that accused Ridder’s police of violating people’s rights.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan-rferl-correspondent-detained/24993590.html

DUSHANBE — A Tajik businessman and former industry minister who recently announced he would create a new opposition party has been detained at the Dushanbe airport upon return from a trip abroad.

RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports that Zaid Saidov was arrested by agents of Tajikistan’s anticorruption agency.

The agency said that Saidov is accused of «grave crimes, including fraud, bribery, and abuse of power.»

Saidov, along with several Tajik businessmen and academics, announced in April the creation of the New Tajikistan political party.

Speaking to RFE/RL from Paris before his return to Tajikistan, Saidov said the allegations were baseless and were part of growing pressure against him by authorities since he announced his intention to go into politics.

Last week, while Saidov was abroad, authorities opened two criminal cases against Saidov, accusing him of theft and polygamy.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan-saidov-arrest/24990533.html

ASHGABAT — A European Union delegation has raised with Turkmen officials the case of a detained RFE/RL correspondent. 

Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said on May 17 that the delegation expressed concern over the detention of Turkmen Service correspondent Rovshen Yazmuhamedov at a meeting on human rights with Turkmen officials in Turkmenistan on May 15.

«We have very specifically expressed concern about the arrest, have asked for details about the reasons for his arrest and whether his family, for example, and lawyers were authorized to visit him, and we will continue to monitor this closely,» Kocijancic said.

Yazmuhamedov, 30, was detained on May 6 by police in the northeastern city of Turkmenabat.

Kocijancic said the EU urged Turkmen officials to make a prompt decision on the case.

«As far as I understand, the law-enforcement institutions should make a decision on this case within 10 days, which would mean very shortly,» Kocijancic said.

Despite multiple requests to Turkmen authorities, RFE/RL has been unable to obtain any information about Yazmuhamedov’s condition.

According to Yazmuhamedov’s relatives, the journalist is being held at a detention center run by the Interior Ministry’s Directorate No. 6, which investigates organized-crime and terrorism-related cases.

Relatives also told RFE/RL that Yazmuhamedov was interrogated by security services several times recently.

Since 2009, RFE/RL has documented three other incidents involving the confinement and imprisonment of persons associated with its Turkmen Service, or Azatlyk Radiosy as it is known locally.

In October 2011, correspondent Dovletmyrat Yazkuliyev was sentenced to five years in prison on phony charges, several months after security agents interrogated him about his reporting on explosions in the city of Abadan and threatened him with prosecution for «causing national, social, and religious provocations.»

Yazkuliyev was later released from prison under a presidential amnesty following an appeal by four U.S. senators, including current U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

http://www.rferl.org/content/turkmenistan-rferl-correspondent/24989415.html

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has declared Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky persona non grata and banned him from entering the country.

The parliament passed the measure on May 15 by a majority of 67 deputies in the 120-seat chamber.

The decision to ban Zhirinovsky, who is the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, comes after he proposed in the Russian state Duma that Bishkek hand over the mountainous lake of Issyk Kul to Russia in exchange for a write-off of Kyrgyzstan’s some $ 500 million in debts to Moscow.

With reporting by Itar-Tass

http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgystan-zhironovsky-banned/24987523.html

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Kazakhstan’s Bureau for Human Rights has criticized authorities for placing a journalist in a psychiatric clinic. 

The chairman of the Almaty-based bureau, Yevgeny Zhovtis, told journalists on May 14 that the case of Aleksandr Kharlamov is reminiscent of the Soviet-era, when dissidents were regularly placed in psychiatric clinics.

Kharlamov was arrested in March and charged with inciting religious hatred.

In April, he was brought from his native town of Ridder in Kazakhstan’s northeast to a psychiatric clinic in Almaty.

Kharlamov’s relatives say they have not been allowed to see him since then. Kharlamov’s wife, Marina Kaplunskaya, told journalists on May 12 that her husband’s case is politically motivated.

According to her, local authorities launched investigations against Kharlamov after an article he wrote criticizing local police was published in a Ridder newspaper.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan-rights-group-journalist-psychiatric-clinic/24986089.html

ORAL, Kazakhstan — A trial has begun in this western Kazakh city of four men accused of attacking a prominent journalist. 

Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a reporter for the «Uralskaya nedelya» weekly, was left in serious condition when he was stabbed and shot with an air pistol in April 2012.

Akhmedyarov says the attack was related to his journalistic activities, which have sparked controversies and legal actions.

Akhmedyarov was found guilty in July of insulting a local official and ordered to pay the official a penalty of about $33,000.

In November, he was ordered to pay $7,700 to a financial police officer after a judge ruled that Akhmedyarov had insulted the officer in an article.

In October, Akhmedyarov received the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism in the United States.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan-trial-attack-journalist/24985588.html

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.»

http://www.rferl.org/content/turkmenistan-rferl-reporter-detained/24982709.html