Thursday, February 16, 2012

Turkmenistan

Turkmen Dissident Arrested In Bulgaria

(RFE/RL)

February 21, 2007 -- Bulgarian police have arrested a Turkmen dissident and authorities said they may extradite him to Turkmenistan.

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February 21, 2007

Annadurdy Khajiev is a senior member of the exiled opposition Watan party.

Police said he was arrested on February 19 in the Black Sea port city of Varna following notification by Interpol.

Khajiev's supporters said his arrest was politically motivated and demanded his immediate release.

The Watan party said in a statement that Khajiev's family was constantly persecuted in Turkmenistan. Khajiev's sister, RFE/RL reporter Ogulsapar Muradova, died in prison in Turkmenistan in 2006 after a trial described by international human rights groups as unfair.

Watan accused Bulgarian authorities of "deliberately cooperating with one of the most repressive dictatorships in the world." It asked the European Union to pressure new EU member Bulgaria to stop what it called an "illegality."

(Reuters)

Turkmenistan's Presidential Election

A billboard in Ashgabat with portraits of the candidates in the February 11 election (OSCE)

SIGNS OF CHANGE? Reporters Without Borders analyst Elsa Vidal and RFE/RL Kazakh Service Director Merkhat Sharipzhanov led an RFE/RL briefing in Prague about the significance -- or lack thereof -- of Turkmenistan's first-ever competitive presidential election.

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Listen to the entire briefing (about 60 minutes):
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Could Presidential Vote Open New Chapter?

Sorting Out The Presidential Candidates

Presidential Campaign Reflects Latent Social Tensions

Campaign Opens With Surprising Promises Of Reform

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