A Coalition of Human Rights Organizations Urges the UN to Help Free an Environmental Activist Imprisoned in Turkmenistan

A coalition of human rights organizations has called on the United Nations to assist in the release of an environmental activist imprisoned in Turkmenistan. It is expected that Bertrand Ramcharan, the senior deputy of the UN Human Rights Commission, will visit Turkmenistan on Monday to discuss various issues. Human rights groups are urging him to include the case of Fardi Tukhbatullin, who was sentenced to three years in prison this week for his environmental activism, in his discussions. Mr. Tukhbatullin's conviction was announced on charges of illegal entry into Turkmenistan. When he returned from a trip abroad, officials refused to stamp his passport. Human rights advocates claim that Tukhbatullin is innocent and was not tried in a fair court. International observers were not allowed to attend the trial. His prison sentence was issued one day after the head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe personally received assurances from Saparmurat Niyazov, the President of Turkmenistan, that Tukhbatullin would not be imprisoned. The organization has prepared a draft report on human rights violations in Turkmenistan, indicating mass arrests and torture. According to the organization, the situation in the country has severely deteriorated since an assassination attempt on the president last summer. Mr. Tukhbatullin traveled to Moscow in November to participate in a human rights conference organized by the International Federation for Human Rights in Helsinki. At the conference, he spoke about the environment, freedom of expression, and children's rights. Aaron Rhodes, the head of the Helsinki-based organization, believes that Tukhbatullin was imprisoned to intimidate other opponents and activists. He added, 'The prison sentence is a warning from the Turkmenbashi regime (Niyazov) to the people of Turkmenistan that activities for human rights will be severely suppressed, and he wants to show that domestic and international laws have no impact on his repressive actions.' Mr. Rhodes has called on the UN to take action for Tukhbatullin's release. Diplomats say that the report from the UN Human Rights Commission's deputy will form the basis for a strong resolution regarding Turkmenistan, which the Human Rights Commission will vote on in Geneva on March 17. Turkmen officials deny human rights violations and claim that their actions are legal and aimed at defending national security.