RFE/RL Reporter Sentenced to Five Years in Jail
Turkmen authorities sentenced Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reporter Dovletmyrat Yazkuliyev to five years in jail for encouraging a relative to commit suicide. The charges are widely thought to be a sham and are instead due to his journalistic activities. Yazkuliyev covered the deadly explosions at a weapons depot near the capital Ashgabat in July 2011, downplayed by Turkmen media, and in the past has been harassed by authorities.
Turkmenistan is rated Not Free in Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press index. Press freedom is severely restricted by the Turkmen government, which controls all broadcast and print media. Authorities banned foreign newspapers and periodical subscriptions in the country and have harassed reporters from foreign media outlets, including RFE/RL reporters Osman Hallyev and Gurbandurdy Durdykuliyev. Unanswered questions also still surround the 2006 death in custody of RFE/RL correspondent Ogulsapar Muradova.
Freedom House condemns the harsh sentence for Yazkuliyev and calls for authorities to drop all charges against him. The Turkmen government must cease its suppression and intimidation of local and foreign media in an effort to promote press freedom.
Turkmenistan is rated Not Free in Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press index. Press freedom is severely restricted by the Turkmen government, which controls all broadcast and print media. Authorities banned foreign newspapers and periodical subscriptions in the country and have harassed reporters from foreign media outlets, including RFE/RL reporters Osman Hallyev and Gurbandurdy Durdykuliyev. Unanswered questions also still surround the 2006 death in custody of RFE/RL correspondent Ogulsapar Muradova.
Freedom House condemns the harsh sentence for Yazkuliyev and calls for authorities to drop all charges against him. The Turkmen government must cease its suppression and intimidation of local and foreign media in an effort to promote press freedom.
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