Almaty, 7 October 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Kazakhstan has turned down a request by the Turkmen government to deport a Turkmen dissident back to Turkmenistan. Turkmen authorities were seeking the return of Gulgeldy Annaniyazov, 42, to Turkmenistan where he had already served a prison term for organizing a prodemocracy demonstration in 1995.
Annaniyazov was freed under intense international pressure in 1999 and fled to Kazakhstan. He attempted to travel to Russia last month using a false passport but was caught and returned to Kazakhstan.
Kazakh officials considered deporting Annaniyazov to Turkmenistan but were stopped by a wave of protests from human rights activists who said Annaniyazov could be tortured if he went back.
Kazakh authorities allowed United Nations officials to fly Annaniyazov to Norway.
Annaniyazov was freed under intense international pressure in 1999 and fled to Kazakhstan. He attempted to travel to Russia last month using a false passport but was caught and returned to Kazakhstan.
Kazakh officials considered deporting Annaniyazov to Turkmenistan but were stopped by a wave of protests from human rights activists who said Annaniyazov could be tortured if he went back.
Kazakh authorities allowed United Nations officials to fly Annaniyazov to Norway.